Figure 1: the construction of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Architectus was a member of the Exemplar Health Consortium which partnered with Lendlease to design and deliver the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) for Queensland Health.
Delivered by the PPP model, the $1.8billion SCUH was at the time one of the largest construction projects in Australia.
Sunshine Coast University Hospital was the winner of the 2017 Australian Institute of Architects (QLD) F.D.G Stanley Award for Public Architecture, and 2019 Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards for Best Public Building.
Figure 2: view of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Coordination and integration of design inputs is essential with the PPP tender and we have proven flexibility to react quickly to changing situations and inputs. We appreciate the impact of transferred risk for time and cost overruns to the consortium, and our experience in PPP project delivery emphasizes the importance of applying robust design strategies from the onset. We understand that value-for-money is key to the success of the competitive PPP tender and financing, project delivery and long term successful operation and maintenance.
The length of operating period of the PPP model provides for a holistic approach to sustainable design and the opportunity to achieve outcomes and gain benefits over many years. Architectus supports the development of the infrastructure market towards sustainable social, economic and environmental outcomes. We are leaders in sustainable design and the PPP project offers special opportunities for consideration of the long term benefits of incorporating initiatives at a projects inception.
Figure 3: G:Link, Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 1 delivered by PPP and completed in 2014.
As part of the GoldLinQ consortium, Architectus provided city planning, urban design and architectural design services for Stage 1 of the Gold Coast Light Rail. The GoldLinQ consortium includes Keolis, Downer EDI, McConnell Dowell, Bombardier and Plenary Group.
Uniquely, the State, Gold Coast City Council and the Commonwealth coordinated to fund the project as a PPP, recognising the best balance of public and private sector contribution to optimise value-for-money and achieve innovation in the project.
The urban, landscape design and system architecture concept has been designed to be easily maintained in the long term, and has undergone fit-for-purpose and whole-of-life cost analysis to ensure designs represent value-for-money and are suitably resilient.
Figure 4: Stage 1 of the Canberra Metro was delivered by PPP and completed in December 2018.
The Canberra Metro Light Rail was delivered as a PPP between the ACT Government and the Canberra Metro consortium.
The Canberra Metro consortium provided an excellent mix of expertise over design, operation, finance and delivery; Pacific Partnerships, CPB Contractors, John Holland, UGL, Mitsubishi Corporation, Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments, Deutsche Bahn International, CAF and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Ltd.
The ACT Government client representatives at Transport Canberra, the Transport Canberra Light Rail team and the National Capital Authority were all key to the project success.
As architects and designers for the consortium, our research for the project began early in 2014 with team member discussions and early research to understand the project context and objectives. We aimed to be fully prepared when we were shortlisted to tender.
A key part of our approach was adopting a design approach which looked beyond the physical confines of the project boundary. This was expressed in an integrated design with landscape, architecture and system design working together to uplift the corridor and broader precincts from Gungahlin through Dickson to Civic. At Civic we proposed a wider contextual response, expanding the project to include the public domain of the Sydney and Melbourne buildings; this approach was unique in comparison to other proposals.
