The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Stage 3 Redevelopment

Kangkanthi, which means ‘to care’ in the Kaurna language, is the centrepiece of the $314M redevelopment at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH).

The five storey 27000m2 clinical services building comprises a 46-treatment bay emergency department, diagnostic and interventional medical imaging unit, 14 bed intensive care unit, pathology laboratory, cardiac catheter lab and procedural suite, central sterilisation service, 12 state-of-the-art operating theatres with 54 recovery beds, and a 52-bed rehabilitation facility.

Extensive engagement with health professionals, consumers, the community, and Aboriginal consumers has been at the forefront of planning and design of the new building to ensure it reflects the needs now and into the future. More than 90 formal user workshops were undertaken through the concept design phase of the project, with hundreds of formal and informal sessions occurring through the design development, documentation and delivery of the building. Consultation has also been undertaken with executive stakeholders and has covered the design of new facilities, management of ongoing service delivery during construction and long-term operational considerations including efficiency, clinical effectiveness and safety. 

Sustainability, environmental and financial, has been a key objective of the project and has influenced decisions throughout the redevelopment. 

It is recognised that providing a facility with good environmental qualities will provide a positive environment and workplace for staff, patients and occupants supporting better healthcare outcomes and improved wellbeing. Similarly, it is appreciated that a facility that consumes less energy, reduces waste and encourages reuse of resources will provide benefits in reduced operational costs and environmental impact.

Kangkanthi, has been awarded a 6-star In-house Green Rating Assessment Tool score for design and construction, and is one of the first major healthcare building in Australia to be all-electric, with no natural gas used within the building.

Some of the strategies incorporated in the building to achieve this rating include:

• incorporation of predicted climate change into design,

• high-performance thermally isolated double and triple glazed windows and curtain walls,

• highly insulated thermally isolated walls,

• detailing and construction for air tightness (with as-built testing),

• use of courtyards to increase natural lighting,

• selection of hardwearing materials with minimal maintenance,

• selection of responsible building materials,

• use of active lighting systems (occupancy sensors, lighting level sensors, tuneable colours),

• use of modelling and development of digital twin,

Building Information Modelling was used extensively through the project from early concept through to construction delivery. All areas, fixtures, equipment and services were modelled. This enabled user groups to gain an understanding of what their spaces were going to be without having to interpret drawings. Working with the construction team and subcontractors on site clashes and rework were minimised.