WESTMEAD, NSW – MAY 2026 – The Children’s Hospital at Westmead has officially opened its new Wattle Building, marking a major milestone in paediatric healthcare design in New South Wales.
Designed by Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) for Health Infrastructure and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, the project forms part of the largest investment in paediatric health in NSW in 25 years. Alongside the recently completed Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick, the development represents a new, coordinated vision for children’s healthcare across the state.
The Westmead redevelopment goes beyond traditional hospital design, positioning architecture as a key contributor to wellbeing, family connection and quality of care. The building integrates highly specialised clinical services within a setting shaped by play, movement and connection to landscape.
Informed by the inland river landscape, central to the design is the concept of the “activated journey,” transforming circulation spaces into engaging, intuitive experiences that support children and families emotionally, not just functionally.
Set within the Westmead health and education precinct, the new building introduces KidsPark, a landscaped forecourt that acts as both civic entry and play space, leading into KidsWay—a light-filled pathway that replaces the traditional hospital front door with a more open and welcoming arrival experience.
These spaces incorporate retail, outdoor areas and moments of pause, supporting families and creating a de-institutionalised, community-focused environment.
While part of a broader network strategy, Westmead’s design is distinctly shaped by its local context. Inspired by the convergence of the Parramatta River, Toongabbie Creek and Darling Mills Creek, the project uses flowing forms, colour and materiality to reflect the surrounding river landscape.
This connection to place extends throughout, from façade design to interiors and wayfinding, creating a cohesive narrative that enhances orientation and sense of belonging.
The hospital prioritises a family-centred model of care, with design strategies that combine clinical performance and emotional wellbeing.
Key features include:
- Single-occupancy patient rooms designed as “bedrooms, not wards”
- Inpatient units organised into small “neighbourhoods”
- Dedicated family spaces with 24/7 access
- Play and discovery zones throughout circulation areas
- Strong integration of natural light, greenery and outdoor access
- Indigenous artworks and spaces supporting cultural connection
The project reflects a wider shift towards more holistic, place-responsive healthcare environments in Australia, integrating cultural knowledge, landscape and patient experience into clinical infrastructure.
Delivered through collaboration with Yerrabingin, the project embeds a “Connection with Country” approach, reinforcing the importance of water, landscape and culture in shaping the hospital environment.
With its opening, the Children’s Hospital at Westmead becomes both a major clinical facility and a new model for paediatric healthcare design—one that positions hospitals as civic spaces, family environments and emotionally supportive places for care.
Project Overview
Clinical Opening: May 2026
Client: Health Infrastructure + Sydney Children’s Hospital Network
Project type: Paediatric Hospital
Size (GFA): 57,000 m² + 1004 car park spaces
Location: Westmead, NSW
Design Team
Architecture & Design team: Billard Leece Partnership (BLP)
Landscape architect: McGegor Coxall
Builder: RobertsCo
Structural and civil engineer: Arup
Mech engineer: Stantec
Elec engineer: Stantec
Hydraulic & Traffic: Arup + WSP
Acoustic: Stantec
Town Planning: Architectus
Wayfinding + Environmental Graphics: Frost*Collective
Photographer: Tom Roe
