The Royal Children’s Hospital

Nature nurtures at “The Hospital in the Park”.

Family-centred care is at the heart of the new Royal Children’s Hospital: a place of fun for parents, staff and children; a place of comfort during times of anxiety and an environment that sustains the family bond at times of disruption and dislocation. The integration of a children’s hospital in a park was fundamental to the siting of the building, the distribution of departments, orientation and sculpting of the site. This enables distant views in every direction, just as there are gardens in every direction.

The Hospital seeks a special place in the history of the hospital, the site, and built reflection of the historic settlement patterns of Victoria. Its primary ordering principle, The Main Street, is a natural interpretation of the climatic spirit lines of the site, a simple, pre-cognitive wayfinding tool for laying out the land.

This project was a joint venture between Bates Smart and Billard Leece Partnership, with HKS as international advisors.

Location – Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria
Client – Lendlease
Size – 165,000sqm
Completed – Stage 1 2011, Stage 2 2015

Key Facts

272
inpatient beds

85%
single rooms

30+
awards

Gallery
Awards
  • 2013 Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards, John Holland Award for Best Public Building
  • 2013 Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards, Victorian Development of the Year
  • 2012 Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards, Public Architecture
  • 2012 Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter), Victorian Architecture Medal
  • 2012 Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter), William Wardell Award, Public Architecture
  • 2012 Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter), Melbourne Prize
  • 2012 Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter), Interior Architecture Commendation
  • 2012 Design & Health
 International Academy Awards, International Health Project >40,000m2
  • 2012 Design & Health
 International Academy Awards, Interior Design
  • 2012 Design & Health
 International Academy Awards, Sustainable Design
  • 2012 Design & Health
 International Academy Awards, Use of Art in Patient Environment Commendation
  • 2012 World Architecture Festival Awards, Health Category
  • 2012 Design Institute of Australia Australian Interior Design Awards, Design Excellence and Innovation
  • 2012 Design Institute of Australia Australian Interior Design Awards, Colour in Commercial Design
  • 2012 Design Institute of Australia Australian Interior Design Awards, Public Design
  • 2012 Design Institute of Australia Australian Interior Design Awards, Best of State Victoria
  • 2012 Dulux Colour Awards, Grand Prix
  • 2012 Dulux Colour Awards, Commercial Interior
  • 2012 Infrastructure Partnerships Australia National Infrastructure Awards, Infrastructure Project of the Year
  • 2012 Australian Property Institute Awards, Property Development
  • 2012 Australian Property Institute Awards, Environmental Development
  • 2012 Master Builders Excellence in Construction Award, Construction of Commercial Building over $80m
  • 2012 LEAF Awards (Leading European Architects’ Forum), Interior Design
  • 2012 Melbourne Design Awards, Wayfinding
  • 2012 Interior Design Excellence Awards, Overall Prize
  • 2012 Interior Design Excellence Awards, Public Space
  • 2012 Building Products News Sustainability Awards, Public Building & Urban Design
  • 2012 Building Products News Sustainability Awards, Best of the Best
  • 2012 International Interior Design Association Global Excellence Awards, Best of Competition
  • 2012 International Interior Design Association Global Excellence Awards, Best of Category Healthcare
  • 2012 Consult Australia Awards for Excellence, Collaboration Gold Award
  • 2012 Consult Australia Awards for Excellence, Sustainability
The Royal Children's HospitalAdelaide Bell