Macquarie University Hospital
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Macquarie Univeristy Hospital
Architect: Health Pl
Construction Contractor: Baulderstone
Brick Manufacturer: Boral Bricks
Macquarie University Hospital presented an exciting opportunity to create a private hospital linked to a leading research university. In designing the hospital, a number of issues had to be considered, including constraints of the sloping site and complex building shape and the functional requirements of Australia's first fully digital private hospital.
Opened in June 2010, the 6 storey building is constructed of a reinforced concrete frame and combination of non loadbearing brickwork for the two level podium, which houses clinical functions such as imaging and operating theatres and prefinished cladding for the upper four levels. To provide visual interest and reduce impact of the building mass, the upper floors containing the patient wards have been stepped back and the fire stairs extending to the roof, are painted a contrasting dark blue/grey colour.
The bricks are solid colour, smooth face, with ironed joints, supported on shelf angles off the concrete structure. There are recessed soldier headers over the windows and the mortar joints are deeply raked every seven courses to create illusion of banding and to provide relief to what would otherwise be large expanses of brickwork.
