The NSW Department of Planning and Environment has approved the construction of St Vincent’s Private Hospital’s new East Wing. With a contractor already in place, subcontracting opportunities for this $95 million project are expected to follow.
The infrastructure upgrade at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Darlinghurst, Sydney, will involve the construction of a new 13-level building, the East Wing, including plant. Construction is expected to start in October 2015, and be completed by April 2017.
The East Wing will provide nearly 11,000 square metres of additional floor space, including two new operating theatres and 48 new beds, as well as rehabilitation suites, consultation suites, and a hydrotherapy pool. The patient rooms and staff facilities at the existing main hospital building will also be upgraded following the completion of the new wing.
The new hybrid operating theatres will allow improved surgery precision and imaging feedback during operations. The rehabilitation units will allow patients to transition from recovery to rehabilitation within the hospital, rather than having to return home for rehabilitation.
Two levels of the new building will be developed as cold shell spaces, with the fitout to be designed and constructed on behalf of the tenants of the consulting suites. The new wing will be connected with the existing buildings via ramps and direct connections at various levels. Connecting ramps will include infill rooms for lounge, beverage, disposal and accessibility ensuites.
The lift lobby will be implemented on the northern façade of the building as an “exterior landmark” with internal lighting finishes and colours to enable the lift core to be visible from outside the glazed façade, particularly at night.
The Department of Planning and Environment approved the redevelopment after a detailed assessment, which included thorough public consultation. It imposed conditions on the project including construction times, access and the protection of heritage.
The $95 million development will create 200 fulltime equivalent jobs during construction and an additional 100 ongoing operational jobs.
St Vincent’s Private Hospital has engaged Buildcorp as the builder, Hassell as architect, and Norman Disney & Young, Taylor Thomas & Whitting, and Waterman as engineers.
Thw hospital is part of St Vincent’s & Mater Health Sydney, which has occupied the Darlinghurst site since 1857.