The AR/M Project - The Austin Health Redevelopment and Mercy Hospital for Women , Victoria

Two hospitals, one site. The AR/M Project provides two new hospitals on the current Austin Hospital campus. The new Austin tower contains 400 acute beds, specialising in cancer, neurology treatment, and paediatrics with state-wide specialities in liver and renal transplant, spinal injury and respiratory support. The Mercy Hospital for Women provides 128 beds of obstetric/maternity and gynaecological services with 62 neonatal cots. An integrated campus with a fresh, contemporary image for each hospital.
The brief was to create an integrated hospital campus while expressing each hospital’s individual identity. The design provided a patient and visitor friendly facility with facilitates patient-focused care, maximised external views, ensured good wayfinding and access to gardens. The two towers were designed with ward layouts that maximised staff efficiency and minimised travel distances.
The design is fresh and contemporary with aluminium clad facades and use of enduring yet simple palettes of stone, timber, glass, terrazzo and stainless steel. Extensive energy modelling was undertaken with a design expected to reduce energy consumption by 15-25% compared to other similar sized facilities.
In association with Daryl Jackson Architects. Completed in 2005.
“Mercy Hospital is a beautiful building. It is highly functional in terms of clinical requirements but also in terms of aesthetics. The result is more like a hotel than a hospital” John Ballard, CEO, Mercy Health and Aged Care