Kingaroy Hospital
Kingaroy Hospital
Client:
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service
Location:
Kingaroy, Queensland
Traditional Custodians of the Land:
The Wakka Wakka People
Status:
Built, 2021
Contact Person:
Rebecca Moore
The Kingaroy Hospital Redevelopment is a new, 66-bed stand-alone clinical services building located on the site of the existing hospital on the northern edge of Kingaroy township. The redevelopment project delivers expanded clinical services including a new emergency department, acute inpatient unit (incorporating rehabilitation and mental health), operating suites, maternity unit, dialysis and chemotherapy services, outpatient consulting spaces and clinical support spaces.
The hospital delivers timely, high quality services to a diverse and dispersed regional patient population and importantly reduces the need to travel for care. In addition to increasing capacity, the design facilitates inclusive, accessible and adaptable services that are set to meet future changing clinical needs without significant building modifications.
The redevelopment retains and reflects the community feel of the original hospital whilst creating a new identity as a civic hub in the region.
Prior to redevelopment, the capacity, functionality and accessibility of the existing hospital and site was challenged by ad-hoc expansions, poor legibility and a significant fall of 10m across the site from east to west.
Site Planning
Site planning for the redevelopment is shaped by multiple requirements including; maintaining the operations of the existing hospital during construction, retaining the existing L-shaped ward building footprint and providing an on-grade connection to the existing helipad at the top of the site. The new two storey main building is lowered into the landscape facilitating access to the upper contours. A single storey on-grade building creates a new legible visitor entry and connects the main building to the new adjacent outpatients building.
Department and circulation planning optimise patient, staff and visitor flow and provides opportunities for staff engagement. A transparent circulation spine along on the community facing edge of the building creates a visible, activated perimeter and enables clear wayfinding between departments. Recognising the diverse experiences that occur within a hospital setting, the glass façade opens to distant views establishing calming visual connections to the park areas on site whilst providing multiple opportunities for visitors and patients to connect to the surrounding landscape at different scales.
The design utilises efficient planning and prioritises the patient experience across key areas. The hospital is designed to meet changing requirements over time, with multipurpose spaces and flexible design strategies such as universal bedrooms which can be easily adapted incorporated throughout the redevelopment.
The complexities of maintaining the functional operations of the existing hospital during construction, as well as planning for future needs and flexibility, required resolving numerous site wide and building service challenges and detailed co-ordination. Design solutions were continually balanced against the impacts and opportunities of the landscape to deliver integrated and enhanced site amenity.
Sustainability
Sustainability initiatives are embedded within the design. The redevelopment incorporates high performance façades, passive design strategies and an extensive solar array to reduce energy consumption, while utilising a building management system to monitor consumption. Strategies including water re-use and stormwater treatment on site, the use of low-pollutant and reclaimed timber aim the preserve natural resources and improve indoor air quality.
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Client:
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service
Location:
Kingaroy, Queensland
Traditional Custodians of the Land:
The Wakka Wakka People
Status:
Built, 2021
Contact Person:
Rebecca Moore
