Now a vibrant urban precinct, Constitution Place consists of a pair of buildings in dialogue, the ACT Government headquarters and a mixed-use office and premium hotel building, both a framed by a network of fine grain public spaces.

Circular and triangular geometries inscribe urban spaces and built forms unique to Canberra and utilise enduring materials to create a lasting legacy in the heart of Civic.

A network of fine grain public spaces defines the precinct’s urban design and weaves together different scales, from the civic-scaled Legislative Plaza, to an intimate Pocket Square and a dining laneway connecting Constitution Avenue to the Canberra Theatre.

Legislative Plaza tapers inward, drawing people in to a tree-shaded grassed area, a civic colonnade and a café. A pocket square on the corner of Constitution Avenue and London Circuit juxtaposes Legislative Plaza as an intimate gathering space. Theatre Lane connects these two spaces and provides pedestrian permeability through the site. It is fronted with cafes, restaurants and bars and has become Civic’s new ‘eat street,’ attracting lunchtime workers as well as the evening theatre crowd.

The commercial and hotel building claims the corner of Constitution Avenue and London Circuit; this is a new typology for Canberra and frames a dramatic entry to Theatre Lane. A grid of black fine steel fins provide shading, contrasting the white masonry of the Government Building. The fin density changes vertically to reference internal functions and articulate the buildings as two stacked volumes to reduce its scale.

The 132-room A by Adina Hotel offers guests spacious apartment living with personalised services and facilities. The triangular floorplate maximises natural daylight and outlook for guests, while the materiality has remained raw and honest, with tonal elements of eucalyptus green subtly referenced throughout.