Renowned for overseeing the construction of numerous hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide, Multiplex has completed the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government’s hotly anticipated new emergency, surgical and critical healthcare building as part of the Canberra Hospital Expansion.
The new eight-storey Critical Services Building within the existing Canberra Hospital campus at Garran steals the coveted title of Australia’s first fully electric hospital alongside the biggest healthcare infrastructure project ever entered into by the ACT government.
The Canberra Hospital Expansion equips Canberra with an innovative medical facility primed to address the region’s healthcare needs, specifically through increasing the Canberra Hospital’s surgical services capacity.
Multiplex regional managing director for NSW and Victoria David Ghannoum confirmed the company’s pride and excitement in delivering a vital community infrastructure project that tallied impressive project figures – spanning three years and involving more than 4000 on-site workers.
“This world-class health facility truly embodies innovation and cutting-edge sustainability,” says Ghannoum.
An environment conducive to healing and connection
Canberrans will rejoice in offerings such as a new emergency department complete with a dedicated children’s emergency area, an expanded intensive care unit (ICU), perioperative services, 22 operating theatres fitted with advanced technologies, an expanded coronary care unit, cardiac catheterisation laboratories, and additional inpatient accommodation.
Hospital staff and healthcare consumers were meaningfully involved in the design process, led by BVN, to ensure the hospital environment exudes a sense of calmness and peace. Such co-designing processes produced an open and contemporary space with outdoor terraces and courtyards functioning as visitor waiting areas.
A Welcome Hall serves as an inclusive public gathering anchor and main reception connecting the new building to the existing structure. The design team envisages the Welcome Hall as an engaging hub that thoughtfully honours First Nations people by displaying artwork from local Indigenous artists.
Moreover, ICU patients and visitors can freely and safely meet at an outdoor space designed to support medical equipment.
Extensive embrace of sustainable building practices
Taking the crown for Australia’s first fully electric hospital, the entire Canberra Hospital Expansion has a 5 Star Green Star design rating. The building boasts 21 heat pumps in replacement of traditional gas boilers, solar shading and facade glazing embedded in thermally broken double-glazed units to reduce cooling needs in summer and heating needs in winter. The expansion has energy-efficient and intelligent heating, recycled water for landscaping and irrigation, and the building is governed by a holistic building management and control system.
Multiplex illustrated its commitment to reducing embodied carbon in builds by using electrified cranes and a local supply of low-carbon concrete mix, in addition to repurposing 96 percent of materials used during the demolition of other buildings.
Overcoming construction challenges and giving back to the community
The construction process worked to avoid disrupting the local environment, as the site is surrounded by existing hospital infrastructure, residential roads, the private hospital and university buildings, and the nearby Garran Primary School.
Multiplex was also thrilled to employ more than 40 Canberrans during construction through its Connectivity Centre, a hub that facilitates employment and training opportunities for local job seekers.
Photography supplied by Multiplex.
Brisbane hospital honoured with Australia-first Green Star rating.
