Articles
Royal Park, Launceston
For Royal Park in Launceston Tasmania, Modus partnered with Launceston City Council to deliver a much needed toilet building facility. This was for two central reasons. One; the existing brick toilet block had been in use since the 1990s and was in poor condition and non-compliant costing the council more in the long term to refurbish rather than replace.
Two; the community was in need of more Changing Places Facilities. With the larger numbers of people in the community with high-needs and disabilities, this was an essential service. This is Launceston's second Changing Places facility, which also included 6 other toilet building rooms attached, so the building was truly designed to support the needs of all visitors who can now enjoy longer stays at the park.
What is a Changing Places facility?
A Changing Places Facility is a fully equipped public bathroom designed for people with high support needs. Launceston described it as providing a "safe, dignified and inclusive space that goes beyond standard accessible toilets" and we agree. It was funded through a Department of Premier and Cabinet grant.
What makes The Changing Places special is what is inside. It includes things like:
- 12sqm minimum floor space (3m x 4m): Enough space for the user and up to two carers
- Ceiling track hoist: A constant-charging system providing full room coverage
- Adult-sized change table: Height-adjustable to ensure safe transfers and prevent carer injury
- Peninsula toilet: Centrally positioned with space on both sides for assistance
- Privacy screen: A retractable screen to maintain user dignity
Every height and measurement is calculated and tested to ensure the experience is perfect for the user with high support needs.
Click on the circles below to learn more.
The rest of the toilet building
Most Changing Places facilities are designed separately. This one was built into the main building, so the six cubicles and the Changing Places room sit under the one roof. The rest of building included:
- 3 Standard toilets - toilet cubicle with toilet and hand wash basin, suitable for most users.
- 2 Ambulant toilets - with grab rails, designed for people with crutches. Includes handwash basin.
- 1 Universal Access Toilet - larger space, designed for users with wheelchairs. Includes hand wash basin at correct size for wheelchair access and baby change table.
- Other essential fixtures - baby change table, six stainless steel hand dryers, concealed sharps, 18 LED batten lights with day/night switch and motion sensors
Designed to reduce maintenance and vandalism
"It engineers out so many of the maintenance and vandalism issues we'd normally have to deal with - no downpipes or gutters, and nothing that can be easily set alight or damaged."
Karen, Projects, Launceston City Council
Early on during Design Consultation meetings with Launceston, one of their biggest concerns was durability, long-term maintenance and vandal resistant design. This was largely due to the many hassles that the previous older toilet block brought them. Their main concerns were in relation to downpipes and gutters, flame resistance and general protection against vandalism. To combat this, Modus designed the building with:
- Fully hot-dip galvanised steel with aluminium elements throughout, for long life
- Solid core doors with Colorbond skin
- Marine-grade stainless steel fixtures, hinges, indicator bolts and door closers
- Class 3 fasteners in painted finish to match building
- Strong Mini-orb internal walls with ribbed surface to prevent tagging and graffiti
- Gaps under walls for easy wash down, and natural ventilation along with aluminium slat louvres throughout
- Concealed cisterns and through-wall sharps dispensers protect against vandalism and needle access
What colours and finishes were used?
In Design Consultation meetings, we presented and collaborated on a few options for colour scheme and finishes but in the end the council were most impressed with our previous Berowra Waters Marina project for Hornsby Shire Council. As a result, the same material language carried across including:
- External walls in vertical Wood-look Aluminium planking in Spotted Gum finish
- Roof, trims, louvres, steelwork and verandah columns in Colorbond Monument
- Doors coloured in Colorbond Dune finish
- Internal walls consisted of Surfmist mini-orb for Standard, Ambulant and UAT toilets and white aluminium composite panel in the Changing Places room
The external colour scheme and chosen finishes helped match the abundance of trees that surrounded the toilet building.
What Launceston has to say
"From start to finish, Modus have been great to work with. The quotation period and responsiveness were excellent, and the design consultation process was a real standout - the team were patient and took the time to answer every question I had.
What really impressed me was the design itself. It engineers out so many of the maintenance and vandalism issues we'd normally have to deal with - no downpipes or gutters, and nothing that can be easily set alight or damaged. The finished product is a beautiful outcome, and I'd have no hesitation recommending Modus to other local councils and state governments.
Seeing Modus's past projects made a real difference too. Being able to look at what they'd done elsewhere helped me land on exactly the look I was after - I drew on a previous project's colour scheme and finishes, and it worked beautifully."
Karen, Projects, Launceston City Council
A lasting result for the community
Modus is proud to have partnered with City of Launceston on a project that not only looks great and is made to last but one that makes such a positive impact on the community. Launceston can now boast two Changing Places toilets in their Local Government area and Modus is grateful to have been a part of it. Not to mention, replacing the outdated, non-compliant block from the 1990s, leading to positive review from users and cost savings on constant refurbishments and ongoing maintenance.
