Department of Education and Child Development, Adelaide

Overview

The ground floor foyer of the Department of Education and Child Development (DECD) building in Adelaide was upgraded through a restoration-led design by Totalspace Design. The project uncovered and restored original 1970s architectural features that had been concealed during renovations more than 30 years earlier. A new Corian® Solid Surface reception counter became the centrepiece, linking those original features with the functional demands of a busy government building entry.

The Brief

The reception counter had to grow significantly to handle increased visitor numbers and additional security checks, without overwhelming the restored foyer. Totalspace Design wanted a slick, seamless counter with a contoured, flowing form that would still sit comfortably within the angular, 1970s-influenced architecture. The counter also had to include a lowered section that complied with accessibility standards. Because it would face a constant flow of visitors every day, the surface needed to be resilient and maintainable without disrupting front-of-house operations.

Material Specification

Totalspace Design specified Corian® Witch Hazel for the reception counter, valuing the material’s colour range, resilience and free-form properties. Joinery was delivered by Southern Joinery with Ward Constructions.

Design Outcome

Corian® allowed Totalspace Design to create a continuous eight-metre reception counter with inconspicuous joins. The counter reads as a single sculptural element that works with the foyer’s angular lines. The same continuity made it possible for the lowered, accessible section to flow both horizontally and vertically into the main counter, so it looks like part of the whole design rather than an add-on.

Witch Hazel was chosen to complement the restored original features: the bronze metal panel ceiling, exposed bronze and cream concrete columns, and the original granite floor, which had previously been covered with carpet. Because Corian® can be repaired on site if it is knocked or scratched, the counter can be maintained without taking the reception area out of service.

Why It Works for Similar Projects

Government and public building foyers have to handle high visitor volumes, security processes and accessibility requirements while still representing the institution well. Corian® Solid Surface lets designers create long, continuous counters with flowing forms and integrated accessible sections in one cohesive piece. Its renewable surface can be restored on site, which helps reception areas stay presentable over a long service life with minimal disruption. The broad colour palette also gives designers room to respond to existing architecture, which makes Corian® well suited to restoration and adaptive reuse projects as well as new builds.

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