New $478m BioMedical Facility to be developed at Sydney Uni

Denton Corker Marshall + HDR, in collaboration with Arcadia Landscape Architecture and Aileen Sage, have won the design competition for the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator (SBA), a 36,000m² health, research and education facility that is set to create an Australian benchmark for the integration of world-leading biomedical science with clinical research and innovation.

The co-funded partnership project between the NSW Government, Sydney Local Health District and The University of Sydney will deliver a first-in-Australia facility equipped with a range of laboratory research facilities and clinical learning spaces. The investment represents the largest ever capital investment, a landmark $478 million, to build a nation leading biomedical precinct to fast-track research and patient care in New South Wales.

The design competition jury commended Denton Corker Marshall + HDR’s scheme for achieving the key project vision to deliver an internationally recognisable facility, stating “the scheme delivers a world-class biomedical innovation precinct that celebrates the relationship between the University and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital campuses”, and for the first time will establish a physical bridge connecting them.

Connectivity is at the heart of Denton Corker Marshall’s design, focused around a seven-storey circulation spine called the ‘Connector’. The jury noted “the Connector is a compelling proposition, with the functionality and interconnecting qualities expected to foster collaborative interaction, providing a unique offering.”

Alongside the ‘Connector’, laboratory planning lead HDR has designed a range of education and laboratory research facilities, specialist core laboratories and technical support spaces that bring together multidisciplinary teams and integrate fundamental research at the molecular and cellular level with patient-centred research and health outcomes.

The jury commended “the massing and materiality of the upper level ‘floating’ laboratories over a sandstone-like base…and the internal functional planning including flexibility in lab design and adjacencies, and efficiencies in laboratory spaces.” Early works for the SBA will commence this year and initial occupation is expected to occur from 2026.

Adrian FitzGerald, Senior Director, Denton Corker Marshall stated: “We designed the building as a clear, simple sculptural form with a solid base acknowledging its campus setting; a floating top with compelling imagery alluding to both scientific investigation within and an embedded indigenous narrative in the sculptural sunscreens.”

“Our design achieves the highest level of efficiency and declares its purpose for systematic, methodical, scientific study. It is a building for the future with clarity and memorability combining to produce timeless campus architecture.”

Graeme Spencer, National Director of Education + Science, HDR stated: “By pairing our local and global scientific expertise, we have a unique opportunity to design and deliver a series of state-of-the-art, highly adaptable biomedical laboratories where education, healthcare, engineering, and science converge, ultimately enabling SLHD and The University of Sydney to succeed in biomedical research.”

“Laboratories are one of the most programmatically complex and diverse environments to plan, design and engineer, but using advanced design technologies and our data-driven process we have conceived a flexible and efficient design that will cultivate knowledge transfer between biomedical research talent, support robust creativity and collaboration, and enable the acceleration of the biomedical process – from research through to development and commercialisation.”

In a joint statement Sydney Local Health District and the University of Sydney said: “The interconnectivity of the architectural design is the perfect realisation of the close relationship of our partnership and the possibilities for seamless knowledge transfer and communication between the hospital and University.”

Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sydney, Professor Mark Scott AO said: “We are delighted with the winning design by Denton Corker Marshall + HDR which exemplifies the fusion of world-leading research facilities with a dynamic public realm where researchers, staff and students can all gather in a culturally significant setting. We are especially pleased with the contemporary interpretation of Indigenous sense of place and identity.”

Dr Teresa Anderson AM, Chief Executive, Sydney Local Health District stated: “The Sydney Biomedical Accelerator will become a global destination for biomedical research and innovation that will solve the health concerns of today, tomorrow and in future. Denton Corker Marshall have created a symbol of the future in their design, reflecting our vision for the state- of-the-art facility and its significance for NSW, Australia and beyond”