Commonwealth Place Internal Spaces
The design brief for Commonwealth Place included a requirement for spaces suitable for a variety of uses that support promotion of the Capital, including exhibition, café/restaurant and visitor amenity. Also included in the brief was a requirement for approximately 112 square metres of office space to be occupied by Reconciliation Australia which was later revised to 195 square metres.
Following an exhaustive process seeking expressions of interest, no suitable operators were found for the proposed restaurant and café spaces. The proposed uses within the building were revised to incorporate:
- the National Portrait Gallery at Commonwealth Place in the east wing (in lieu of a restaurant);
- increased area for Reconciliation Australia Offices; and
- an area for the café/restaurant space in the west wing.
On 26 July 2002 Manteena Pty Ltd was appointed Project Manager for fitout of the internal spaces at Commonwealth Place.
National Portrait Gallery at Commonwealth Place
In July 2002 the Authority and the National Portrait Gallery agreed that the Gallery would occupy the eastern undercroft of Commonwealth Place. The exhibition space provides the National Portrait Gallery with an opportunity to present works not ideally suited for display at the National Portrait Gallery's space at Old Parliament House. The new exhibition space is the first major expansion of the National Portrait Gallery.
The project provided for completion of the eastern undercroft of Commonwealth Place. It included construction of permanent display walls, entry, reception area, sales, storage, toilets and catering facilities.
The Hon. Rod Kemp MP, Minister for the Arts and Sport, officially opened the National Portrait Gallery at Commonwealth Place on 13 November 2002.
The National Capital Authority designed the interior architecture of the exhibition space. Collard, Clarke and Jackson Pty Ltd Canberra prepared construction documentation. The design objective was to create a free, friendly, recreational atmosphere in which people can enjoy, absorb and be challenged by portraiture.
The tenancy arrangement was established through a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Portrait Gallery commencing on 10 November 2002. The term of the tenancy is three years with an option for an additional two years at the discretion of the Authority.
Offices for Reconciliation Australia
Following the decision in 1991 to establish the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and a formal reconciliation process, Parliament noted that it was 'most desirable that there be such a reconciliation' by the year 2001, the Centenary of Federation. As a result of this decision, Reconciliation Australia was established by the Australian Government in January 2001 and is a non-government, not-for-profit foundation seeking to provide a continuing national focus for reconciliation.
Reconciliation Australia moved into its new premises at Commonwealth Place in December 2002, with an official opening by Reconciliation Australia Co-Chairs Jackie Huggins, AM, and the Hon. Fred Chaney, AO. The office space has been provided to Reconciliation Australia by the Australian Government on the basis that its location within the Parliamentary Zone places the reconciliation process physically and symbolically at the heart of Australian democratic and cultural life.
The tenancy is for a term of three years with a two year option at the discretion of the Authority.
The licence includes a 'peppercorn' rent of $1 per annum.
Watermark on the Edge restaurant
On 12 November 2002 the Hon. Peter Costello MP, the Treasurer, officially opened the Watermark on the Edge Restaurant. Basic building works were provided by the Authority to a value of $366 560. Terms of the licence are for 10 years with an option for an additional five years at the discretion of the Authority.