View more
Winner of the 2025 Dulux Colour Award
Delighted that Northern Memorial Park (NMP) Depot was awarded the Commercial and Multi-Residential Exterior Award at the 39th Dulux Colour Awards!
This project involved the construction and fit-out of a new two-storey mass-timber operations depot, which now serves as the main base for Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust’s northern horticulture and burial teams. The facility is designed to house all vehicles, equipment, and tooling required for the park’s day-to-day operations.
The NMP Depot, designed by Searle x Waldron Architecture, is a strong example of an industrial project approached with thoughtful design. The use of colour has been carefully considered to reflect the surrounding context and natural environment, demonstrating a sensitive and site-responsive design approach.
What the judges said:
“This operations hub redefines the depot typology in numerous ways, and the use of colour across its perforated-steel exterior plays a key role. It places what would otherwise read as a significant building mass gently in the landscape, quietly signalling the client’s core value of creating infrastructure for sustainable longevity. In response to its civic, industrial, natural and memorial contexts, the façade’s pleated steel screen envelops the building, curving around retained tree canopies and blending with the native landscape throughout the cemetery.”
Andrea Lucena-Orr, DuluxGroup, judge
The project stands out for its use of engineered timber, with 20 glulam timber (GLT) trusses forming the backbone of the structure. Each truss is unique, with varying heights and configurations, and houses offices between the lower and upper chords, creating functional and visually striking spaces. To enhance the open, collaborative environment, cross-laminated timber (CLT) slabs with custom-designed openings provide a clear visual connection between the floors, reinforcing the sense of community in the workspace.
Completed in November 2024, the NMP Depot showcases Building Engineering’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and precision engineering, delivering a state-of-the-art facility for GMCT’s future operations.
