ThomsonAdsett was engaged by CBRE to develop designs for three residential rehabilitation facilities for the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) branch of Queensland Health in Cairns, Bundaberg and Ipswich.

The rehabilitation facilities in Ipswich and Bundaberg will be delivered by a culturally-responsive AOD residential rehabilitation and withdrawal management service for adults seeking intensive treatment for AOD use. Facilities at these sites will include withdrawal management beds co-located with central staff administration services, a therapy and recreation facilities building, and residential rehabilitation accommodation in four-bedroom houses.

The Cairns youth alcohol and other drug rehabilitation and treatment service will be delivered by a culturally-responsive facility that provides a range of treatment approaches for young people with complex needs. Facilities at this site will include withdrawal management beds co-located with central staff administration services, therapy and recreation facilities.

While sharing similar operational briefs, the three facilities are designed specifically to respond to the unique physical and climatic context of their respective sites, taking full advantage of existing site features including mature shade trees.

Extensive user group consultation included the development of culturally-appropriate design responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers.

Visual and physical connection to the landscape from within the facilities was a key consideration at all sites. Glazed single-loaded corridors are utilised where possible to maximise the sense of connection between indoors and outside.