The adult and children’s hospitals at the Westmead Health Precinct in western Sydney are connected for the first time with the stage one completion of a more than $1 billion transformation.
HDR is the architect of the completed stage one project, having provided design work from the masterplanning stages and designing concept plans (then as HDR Rice Daubney) with MSJ Architects in 2015.
An overall masterplan for the Westmead Hospital Precinct was prepared by MAAP.
The centrepiece of the project is a new 14-storey Central Acute Services Building, which physically links the children’s and adult hospitals. It is designed to provide timely access to “world-class” clinical services and advanced research and development, with a theatre floor with advanced interventional and MRI capabilities shared between the adult and children’s services.
Westmead Health Precinct state one development by HDR.
Image:
Brett Boardman
HDR national director of health Ronald Hicks said the project was a demonstation of the transformative effect architecture can have in health care contexts.
“When it was conceived 10 years ago, the level of integration we proposed was ahead of its time, almost unfathomable for stakeholders, but they supported the vision and the outcome has been incredibly positive.”
Along with the integration between the exiting hospitals, the acute services building also integrates research and education with health care provision.
Westmead Health Precinct state one development by HDR.
Image:
Brett Boardman
It includes education, training and research facilities on each floor as well as dedicated floors for the University of Sydney. There are also two new emergency departments (one for adults, one for children); 25 digital operating theatres; expanded imaging; pharmacy and logistics; more than 300 patient rooms and dedicated carer zones.
HDR said the design had a pronounced focus on wellbeing with natural light brought into the hospital and views extendng to the Sydney CBD.
Also completed is the six-level innovation centre, which is designed to support education and development of the latest clinical technologies and research and has the capacity for future development of biomedical services.
It includes an exhibition space, large meeting environments, social spaces and a flexible work environment on the top floor.
Westmead Health Precinct state one development by HDR.
Image:
Brett Boardman
HDR director Alan Boswell said the projet “develops a significant identity for Westmead Hospital as a pre-eminent teaching hospital at the cutting edge of science and technology. It has reinvigorated the urban fabric of the precinct, and it has re-engaged the community through good quality public space and connections.”
Source: Architecture - architectureau
