The new Communal Building for Outward Bound Australia will transform their aging National Base Camp outside Canberra, creating a new heart for their campus and a home for the National Centre for Outdoor Risk and Readiness. Designed as a place for gathering, learning, reflection, and connection, the facility includes dining and seminar spaces, a BBQ deck, lounge, kitchen, and administration areas.

Inspired by its natural surroundings, the design honours the local woolshed vernacular and embraces a pared-back sensibility, with three simple, gabled pavilions clad in corrugated sheet, quietly nestled within the bushland setting.

The building embraces its exceptional landscape, with sweeping views of Mount Tennent and the Murrumbidgee River. Extensive north-facing glazing maximizes winter sunlight, while carefully designed shading elements and vine-covered pergolas control the summer heat. A central lantern floods the interior with natural light and provides passive cooling through night-time ventilation.

Designed for flexibility, the building offers multiple spaces for gathering, learning and connection, allowing activities to unfold simultaneously. This new facility will play a vital role in furthering Outward Bound’s mission empower people of all ages to undertake challenging experiences in Australia’s wilderness, inspiring personal growth, building resilience, and nurturing an awareness and appreciation for our natural environment