Improving facilities through thoughtful security and engineering design

Townsville Correctional Centre

Looking to address the demand for more beds, Queensland Correctional Services (QCS) undertook a detailed business case to expand its facilities in Townsville with a 500-bed therapeutic center and a 1,000-bed high security facility.

To help bring this project to life, we were selected to lead the early design phase, providing expertise in security and multidisciplinary engineering services. This included acoustics, civil, electrical, fire protection, hydraulics, information and communications technology, mechanical, structural, and sustainability works.

Working closely with QCS and architectural consultants, our team created designs that incorporated trauma-informed approaches and best practices from across the country. Through stakeholder workshops, we outlined each facility's objectives and designed various building types, from the gatehouse to accommodation and support services. These initial designs informed the massing, spatials, equipment selection, infrastructure services, and security requirements, all of which contributed to developing a cost plan for submission to Queensland Treasury.

Our work, which adhered to QCS standards and minimized the need for future changes, allowed QCS to secure funding and advance the projects to the design stage—ultimately supporting QCS’s vision for humane, modern, and sustainable corrective services in Townsville.