Having achieved the highest sustainability levels ever in a healthcare project in Australia, it came as a surprise to nobody that the Royal Children’s Hospital would win the 2012 BPN Public Buildings & Urban design award.

But according to Bates Smart architectural design director, Kristen Whittle, the team has not stopped trying to improve the hospital’s sustainability features.

Designed by Bates Smart Architects in partnership with Billard Leece, the Royal Children’s Hospital was praised by the 2012 BPN Sustainability Awards judges for taking into account the psychology of healing a child when designing the building, and its carefully considered approach to social sustainability and nature.

Almost a year later, stage two of the project is currently underway, and will add 100 more rooms, retail, crèche, gym, lab and clinical spaces to the building. This will be encapsulated in two refurbished buildings as well as a single level podium and extension of the internal street.

Meanwhile, the hospital’s refurbished MCRI building now features a ten-level sun shading façade that has changed the appearance of the block behind, and improved its thermal performance while maintaining views.

One key problem that was raised during the 2012 BPN Sustainability awards was the lack of an official Green Star Healthcare rating. As the project design commenced prior to the release of the Green Star Healthcare v1 pilot rating tool by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), the architects were not able to get the building appropriately rated.

However, Whittle says that the consortium responsible for financing, designing, constructing and maintaining the new hospital building, Children’s Health Partnership (CHP), offered to perform a self-assessment against the (then yet to be finalised and released) credits of the Green Star Healthcare V1 Rating tool during its submission to the state. This would work to indicate that the design had the potential to achieve a 5 star Green Star rating.

This self-assessment was performed under State review, and all built-in equipment, from active chilled beams to floor finishes or joinery, were designed and selected with the targeted credits of the Green Star Healthcare V1 Rating tool.

Since clinching the Best of the Best award at the 2012 BPN Sustainability Awards, the Royal Children’s Hospital has gone on to win an impressive number of accolades (listed below).

Whittle says that winning these prizes, borne out of good design, has certainly added value to the hospital and its practice.

“One of the biggest benefits of the design and its reputation is the sense of belonging to an important institution. I sense a great deal of pride in those who work in the building, for what it stands for and what it adds to those in need of care,” he says, adding that good design can make a real difference in the lives of people working in a building.

This is especially true for staff retention, which is critical for the running of a large world class research hospital.

Whittle explains that designing sustainable buildings are of paramount importance, and that architects must respect the need to act responsibly with regards to how his or her designs interact with the environment from the broadest perspective.

“The best built form ESD outcomes are born out of rich and balanced blends of environmentally responsive, flexible and aesthetically enriching design solutions.”

Full list of Royal Children’s Hospital Awards as of April 2013:

AIA National Architecture Award, National Award for Public Architecture
AIA Victorian Architecture Awards, Victorian Architecture Medal
AIA Victorian Architecture Awards, Melbourne Prize
AIA Victorian Architecture Awards, William Wardell Award for Public Architecture
AIA Victorian Architecture Awards, Interior Architecture Commendation
Consult Australia 2012 Awards for Excellence, Gold Award for Collaboration
Consult Australia 2012 Awards for Excellence: Highly Commended for Sustainability in Design
Design & Health International Academy Awards, International Health Project (over 40,000 sqm)
Design & Health International Academy Awards, Interior Design
Design & Health International Academy Awards, Sustainable Design
Design & Health International Academy Awards, Use of Art in the Patient
Environment Commendation
World Architecture Festival, International Interior Design, Health Award
Australian Interior Design Awards, Public Design Award
Australian Interior Design Awards, Colour in Commercial Design Award
Australian Interior Design Awards, Best of State Commercial Design Award (Victoria)
Australian Interior Design Awards, Premier Award for Interior Design Excellence & Innovation
LEAF International Interior Design Award
International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Global Excellence Award for Healthcare
International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Global Excellence Best of Competition Award
Australian Property Institute Awards, Charter Keck Cramer Property Development Award
Australian Property Institute Awards, Investa Property Group Environmental Award
(inside) Magazine Interior Design Excellence Awards, Overall Prize
(inside) Magazine Interior Design Excellence Awards, Public Space
Master Builders Association Victoria Excellence in Construction Awards, Construction of Commercial Buildings over $80M
National Infrastructure Awards, Project of the Year
Melbourne Design Awards, Wayfinding
BPN Sustainability Awards, Building Products News Public Building & Urban Design Award
BPN Sustainability Awards, Best of the Best Award
Dulux Colour Awards, Grand Prix Winner
Dulux Colour Awards, Commercial Interior Winner
IES Vic/Tas Dr Albert Dressler Daylight Award of Commendation

Non-Architectural Awards:

Consult Australia 2012 Awards for Excellence, Gold Award for Collaboration
Consult Australia 2012 Awards for Excellence: Highly Commended for Sustainability in Design

To find out more or enter the 2013 BPN Sustainability Awards, please click here. Nominations close on 30 August.

Geraldine Chua

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