City Walk Renewal
Contributing to the revitalisation of one of Canberra’s most important civic spaces.
Client:
Rork Projects
Location:
Canberra ACT
Status:
Completed
Sector:
Government
Sports & Recreation
Services:
Photo Credit:
ACT Government
Overview
Reactivating the Heart of Civic
City Walk Renewal formed part of the ACT Government’s commitment to revitalising City Walk within central Canberra, creating a more attractive, accessible, and welcoming public space for residents and visitors.
The project transformed one of central Canberra’s key civic spaces through upgrades to public areas, civic architecture, landscape design, and lighting. More than 3,000 plants, replacement trees, new lawn areas, paving, furniture, and lighting were introduced as part of the redevelopment, helping establish a greener and more inviting city environment.
Located in the centre of Civic, the renewal was designed to improve the day-to-day experience of the precinct while encouraging greater use of public space by the community.
Our Role
Supporting the Public Realm Vision
Working with Rork Projects and the City Renewal Authority, BSE provided electrical engineering and lighting design services across all stages of the project.
Our role included the development of coordinated electrical and lighting solutions integrated with the broader architectural and landscape vision for the public realm upgrade.
Throughout design and construction, BSE worked closely with the project and construction teams to support efficient delivery and streamlined installation while ensuring the lighting outcomes aligned with the intended character, functionality, and activation of the space.
Outcomes
Creating a Flexible and Vibrant Public Environment
A key feature of the project was the implementation of DMX-controlled colour-changing LED lighting, allowing the space to be adapted for different seasons, events, and community activities.
The lighting design provides flexibility in how the space can be experienced, allowing the ambience of City Walk to respond to different seasons and activities while contributing to its identity and activation after dark. Combined with the broader landscape and public realm improvements, the project has helped create a more inviting and engaging civic destination.
The quality of the project was recognised through the Australian Good Design Awards, where the City Walk upgrades received a Good Design Award Winner Accolade in the Architectural Design category.
“Our team has helped create a thriving high street experience in City Walk, featuring a mix of plantings, street furniture and public art. It has been wonderful to see the upgrades embraced by the community. Our data shows it has contributed to a 340 per cent increase in evening visitation. Its popularity can be observed walking through the beautiful space, where crowds of people are now enjoying meals, being together and people-watching.”
– Lucy Wilson, Place and Design Director, City Renewal Authority
The renewed precinct has become an increasingly popular destination within Canberra’s city centre, helping support community activity and encouraging people to spend more time within the city after dark.
BSE is proud to have contributed to a project that supports the ongoing revitalisation of one of Canberra’s most significant public spaces.
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