Ipswich Hospital Expansion
Ipswich Hospital Expansion
Client:
Queensland Health/West Moreton Health
Location:
Ipswich, Queensland
Scale:
83,000sqm
Status:
Under construction
Contact Person:
Rebecca Moore
Located at the heart of the city, the Ipswich Hospital precinct is set to make a significant contribution to revitalising this growing regional centre in South East Queensland.
For Stage 2 of the hospital’s expansion Architectus is developing the exterior design of a $710 million multi-level acute services building, including a new façade and awnings.
Collaborating with ARCH – principal consultant for the base build design and clinical planning – we’re helping to deliver:
-200 new beds
-A new and expanded emergency department
-Additional operating theatres
-A satellite medical imaging service
-An 8 bed CCU
-Back-of-house services
-Shell spaces for future development
ARCH and a design team of 30+ subconsultants across multiple disciplines are working on the hospital’s expansion, which has also involved the Queensland Government Architects, Ipswich City Council Urban Designers and the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel.
A key site and a connection to heritage
The acute services building is on a wedge-shaped site within the hospital campus, where it forms part of the terminating point of an important axis along the city centre’s primary street.
The building’s exterior design features a brick podium referencing the history of brick manufacturing in the area as well as the many fine brick buildings found on adjacent city blocks. A shaded, landscaped roof terrace sits atop the podium, offering views across the city and surrounding mountains beyond.
Rising above the terrace, the aluminium-clad arms of the tower building vary in colour and material to reflect the scale and appearance of Ipswich’s tangible colonial heritage. The design is also informed by the interpretations of Blaklash Creative, drawing on the geology of the site and ideas of ‘sky country’.
Varying hues to break up building mass
Warm shades evoking local sandstone and clay feature at the building’s base. The articulation and warmth of these colours help to ‘settle’ the large mass within the panorama of the city.
The highest four levels of the hospital are ‘sky coloured’ in light-responsive grey tones. This part of the building is also ‘feathered’ with vertical sunshades to further break down its overall mass.
Connections to Country are enhanced by key views towards Cappong (Cunningham’s Gap), Deebing Creek, Booroong’pah (Flinders Peak) and the Purga Aboriginal Cemetery, which is captured through a glazed ‘lantern’ – a defining wayfinding feature on the south-west corner of the tower.
Completion of stage 2 of the hospital’s expansion is expected by late 2027.
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Client:
Queensland Health/West Moreton Health
Location:
Ipswich, Queensland
Scale:
83,000sqm
Status:
Under construction
Contact Person:
Rebecca Moore
