Epworth Geelong Hospital, VIC

Located on 10 hectares next to Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus, the Epworth Geelong Hospital development combines a comprehensive acute and rehabilitation private hospital with purpose-designed training and education programs for medical, nursing and allied health students and staff. The project provides innovative state-of-the-art facilities to integrate patient care, research, and medical education.

The hospital will be developed over four stages with Stage One now complete. A greenfield site, the intention was to make the hospital a “generator of activity’ for the region.

The site layout has been designed to respond to the landscaped ‘campus style’ design of Deakin University, akin to buildings in a park, incorporating large, landscaped front setbacks to Pigdons Road. The Building uses the ‘open space’ on Pigdons road frontage as a “stage” whilst enhancing and visual amenity from the building itself and providing a softer integration with surrounding rural undeveloped land. The design focuses on the integration of the surrounds yet is also reflective of the function within, with a classical podium and tower arrangement. The use of a solid base, seen to be rising from the ground, with sandstone cladding echoes the cliffs of the south coast. Upper levels of the building house patient accommodation, expressed as a glass volume that strikes a balance between transparency and reflectivity emphasizing the concept of the glass “cloud” on top of a cliff.

The interiors are bold and reflect the branding of Epworth Healthcare with rich dark timber panelling, and use of deep red in carpeted areas and furnishings. The sandstone tiling continues into the foyer reinforcing the external references.

Stage One provides 262 overnight inpatient beds (medical, surgical, obstetrics and rehabilitation); 12 ICU beds; 9 operating theatres, 20 place emergency; 8 special care nursery cots; a clinical education and simulation precinct; medical consulting suites; retail space and logistics.

The planning of Stage One ensured that this is a fully operational hospital, delivering comprehensive services to meet the needs of the community in the Greater Geelong, Colac-Otway, Golden Plains, Queenscliff and Surf Coast regions of Victoria. This project was designed by STH in association with Kann Finch Group Melbourne.

For a video, visit: Welcome to Epworth Geelong

PROJECT SIZE: 65,450 m² (Over 4 stages)

STATUS: Stage One completed 2016

CLIENT: Epworth HealthCare

PHOTOGRAPHY: Paolo Cappelli BACK