The Architectus-designed Health and Medical Research Building (HMRB) at Flinders University in Adelaide is set to welcome students on campus, with the facility’s construction now complete.
Co-located with Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders Private Hospital on Flinders University’s Bedford Park campus, the $280-million HMRB will serve as a combined research, education and clinical expertise facility. The three co-located buildings all form part of a wider medical hub called Flinders Village.
The 22,000-square-metre HMRB accommodates wet and dry research laboratories, workspaces, seminar rooms and amenities. The design embodies principles and strategies for improving health and wellness. Personalised messages that encourage wellbeing and collaboration are inscribed on the internal staircase handrails, while floor-to-ceiling windows draw in natural light and establish visual connections to the outdoors.
An internal staircase anchors the design as part of the wayfinding strategy.
Image:
Shannon McGrath
Architectus principal and project principal Andrew Schunke said they conceived the building as a machine and a tool for research. “Beyond that, we wanted to design a building that spoke to the university’s legacy steeped in a commitment to advancing science and research, and reflecting Flinders’ core values of courage, integrity, innovation, and excellence,” Schunke said.
“We envisioned the HMRB as a connective environment, a vessel for creative ideas and collaboration. Anchored in place and nature, the building and public spaces are designed to facilitate opportunities for the diverse cohort of scientists, researchers and academics to learn from each other and work together – casting a spotlight on human-centred outcomes.”
Consultation with the Cultural Narrative and Indigenous Art Advisory Panel, including Uncle Lewis Yarlupurka O’Brien, explored local Indigenous narratives, including Rainbow Country, and identified important Kaurna landmarks, such as Patawalonga, Tjilbruke Springs, Mount Lofty and Mount Bonython. These narratives and cultural landmarks were represented through the building’s form, visual connections and colour palette. Each level’s interior is distinguished by a different colour scheme, symbolising the multicoloured sands of Rainbow Yarta (Country). The blades on the facade follow the building’s contours, guiding occupants’ eyes toward those distant Kaurna landmarks.
Each level’s interior is distinguished by a different colour scheme, symbolising the multicoloured sands of Rainbow Yarta (Country).
Image:
Shannon McGrath
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the opening. “I’m incredibly excited to see history being made at the HMRB – whether it’s better understanding neural pathways to control chronic pain, unravelling the secrets in our DNA to address debilitating genetic conditions, supporting the health of mothers and babies – there are endless possibilities to what the 600 researchers here will be able to achieve,” said Albanese.
Colin Stirling, Vice-chancellor at Flinders University, added, “Flinders is redefining healthcare. This … facility will drive collaboration and empower our researchers and students to push the boundaries of medical innovation.”
Source: Architecture - architectureau
