A new civic heart for Melbourne’s west, redefining community-centred healthcare.
One of Victoria’s largest ever health infrastructure investment, the new Footscray Hospital establishes a new benchmark for community-centred healthcare design.
Delivered by the Plenary Health consortium with architects Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) and COX Architecture, the project reimagines what a major tertiary hospital can be.
Designed as a campus of five interconnected buildings arranged around a central village green, the hospital functions as both world‑class clinical infrastructure and a welcoming civic destination. The landscape‑led heart of the precinct invites people to gather, connect and enjoy the site as part of daily life—not only when they are unwell.
Inside, a generous internal “hospital street” improves orientation and reduces stress, while over 20,000 square metres of green spaces, courtyards, winter gardens and terraces bring daylight and nature deep into the hospital environment.
Warm natural materials—including a signature sculptural timber ceiling—create visual continuity and bring daylight deep into the interior volumes and intuitive wayfinding is achieved through spatial clarity and deliberate colour application, reducing reliance on signage and supporting diverse user needs. Dedicated multi‑faith spaces and a First Nations courtyard, developed in collaboration with Wurundjeri Woi‑wurrung Elders, further support inclusivity, and cultural safety for the local community.
Sustainability is core to the design, with an 840kW rooftop solar array, a 5 Star Green Star rating, and Australia’s first pursuit of WELL Gold certification for a hospital. Planning also incorporates future‑focused flexibility, including enhanced pandemic preparedness measures.
Opened in February 2026, the New Footscray Hospital sets a new benchmark for integrated, community‑anchored healthcare precincts. It demonstrates that world‑class clinical care and deep community connection are not competing objectives but interdependent foundations of a healthy, resilient city.
Location – Footscray, VIC
Client – Plenary Health / Multiplex
Site Area – 3.9 ha
Total Floor Area – 150, 000+ sqm
Completion – 2025
