Canberra Islamic Centre (CIC)(Sabah Al-Ahmad Mosque)

The site originally held a small community centre, which served as a social hub and place for prayer, and was increasingly inadequate for the growing southside Muslim community. From planning issues, to funding setbacks, the project would have looked like many a building saga, but for the targeted attacks that saw the centre vandalised in 2014. With its pure geometric volumes and clear shapes, the large Islamic centre epitomises the modern identity of Australian Muslims. With design and planning expertise our Stage 2 development application (DA) was prepared to comply with the new CIC Crown lease and includes the following:

1. a place of worship or a mosque building in two levels that forms part of the Australian National Islamic Library (ANIL) Complex - GFA 812 m2;

2. Religious associated use facilities that include:

• library spaces, lecture/class rooms (for use by ANIL and for religious study) –GFA 127 m2;

• Imam’s consultation room, Imam’s residence and a small kiosk - GFA 108 m2;

• a burial wash room (to wash a dead person before burial) – GFA 13 m2; and

• entry lobbies, circulation, bathrooms and storage areas to support the two primary uses – GFA 238 m2.

3. a minaret structure (a symbolic architectural element with no provision for loud speakers); and

4. 189 hard standing car parking spaces with associated landscaping.

The total GFA of new building development proposed on site is 1298 m2.

The Development Application (DA) submitted to the ACT Planning Authority on Friday 1 February 2013 was approved.The CIC Executive Committee ran a selection process to contract a Project Manager.

The concept of building the Canberra Islamic Centre (CIC) came about when a few members of the Canberra Muslim community felt the need for a dedicated meeting place for the Muslims of Canberra. This small group of families started meeting at the Tuggeranong Community Centre. The vision was to develop an Islamic cultural centre, which could serve the on going social, spiritual, recreational, welfare and religious needs of the ACT and the regional community. The plan also included the building of the Australian National Islamic Library (ANIL) which was envisaged to be the largest Islamic library in the Southern Hemisphere.

In December 1993 a Crown Lease was awarded to the CIC. With the generous donations from the Muslim community of the ACT the development and construction of the CIC including ANIL was started. From this point on, the CIC has served the on-going social, spiritual, recreational, welfare and religious needs of the ACT community.

In response to the members’ religious needs, the CIC has been holding regular daily congregational prayers as well as Friday and Eid prayers. In January 2010 a full time Imam was employed to lead the prayers and to provide religious guidance and pastoral care to the CIC members.

Need for a dedicated place of worship was realized and Masjid Project was launched in 2011. With the arrival of a full time Imam and with community support project was started on the east side of the CIC complex. We were fortunate enough to get substantial financial support from the Government of Kuwait for the completion of the Masjid Sabah Al Ahmad Islamic Education Centre on 4th May 2018. Masjid can accommodate up to 1000 worshippers and is the biggest masjid in Canberra.