While Karratha is often thought of as a wealthy mining town, there are still many families from all parts of society that have family members who have disabilities that prevent their full engagement with the wider community. EPIC provide support in the form of training, family support and social support for their client families. The building is sectioned into three pavilions under a single roof structure. The two administration pavilions interconnected by a main entry/foyer space accommodates the main staff office and conference, training and meeting room facilities.

The third pavilion is an Activity and Resource Centre used for community activities and events such as cooking and arts and crafts. All three pavilions are connected by undercover ‘cores’, which allow breezes and a visual connection through the site. The new EPiCentre addresses the intersection of the two main roads. The major corner is addressed with a feature canopy element formed by a translucent polyester sheet which is lit at night and a pedestrian ramp to the main entrance. The second corner on Morse Court and Karratha Terrace intersection is addressed by a smaller skillion roof and wrap down that defines the secondary street corner.

The foyer space in the first of these ‘cores’ which is glazed on both sides and provide the main entry point from the rear carpark side of the building as well as a secondary entry point from the street front. The second ‘core’ provides a breezeway circulation and activity space that has a visually permeable screen to Karratha Terrace. The exterior street facades provide a restrained colour palate in Colorbond Steel, with bursts of yellow in Fibre-cement sheet to the soffit of the eaves and courtyard walls.

At night an internally lit Polyester Prism provides a marker on the street corner, while the coloured sunscreens are backlit to provide a reference to the hill country around the town. Photos: Jason Lennard