Thursday 12 September 2024
MEDIA RELEASE
Heart-warming hospital wins 2024 Australian Development of the Year
Australia’s top property honour has been awarded to the Victorian Heart Hospital, named the Rider Levett Bucknall Australian Development of the Year 2024, for its stunning heart-themed design and innovative construction.
Australia’s first state-of-the-art specialist cardiac hospital, nominated by John Holland, also took home the Woods Bagot Award for Best Public Building at the Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards Gala dinner in Sydney last night.
The Innovation & Excellence awards program, which is now in its 42nd year in partnership with Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), highlights ground-breaking innovations and exceptional leadership in Australia’s property industry.
Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said the project represents the property industry at its best: innovative, community-oriented and a model of design excellence.
“The Innovation & Excellence Awards highlight iconic achievements that shape Australian cities, showcasing the industry’s best,” Mr Zorbas said.
“The Victorian Heart Hospital, designed as a “hospital-in-a-park” with a distinctive weathered steel façade and heart themed design elements, is a glorious winner.
“This hospital is a vitally important piece of social infrastructure for Victorians. The John Holland team can be justly proud of this flagship community asset,” he said.
The Victorian Heart Hospital, operated by Monash Health, now serves as the Victorian Heart Institute’s physical home, offering 6,000m² of mixed-use lab facilities, office space and dedicated areas for teaching and simulation.
The facility will annually accommodate 2,150 cardiac surgeries, 13,500 cardiac lab procedures, over 28,000 cardiac emergency presentations, 108,000 consultations and created over 1,700 jobs during construction.
The innovative lighting design is based on principles that aim to promote wellbeing through exposure to nature and an environment that supports wellbeing. The project also uses Circadian rhythm lighting in areas without natural light helping regulate sleep, enhance cognitive function and productivity.
Located on a greenfield site, the hospital avoided certain construction complexities but faced challenges in testing equipment and systems without a live environment. To address this, John Holland established an off-site ICT test lab with fibre optic connectivity for remote, live testing and full ICT integration.
The building minimises its environmental impact by leveraging natural climate conditions for resilient, energy-efficient heating and cooling, while reducing its carbon footprint with locally sourced materials.
RLB Managing Director Tony Moleta said The Victorian Heart Hospital provides benefit to a wide variety of stakeholders.
“Not just the patients who visit the facility for treatment, but also medical researchers, clinicians and health professionals of the future, who will work in this building to benefit patients and improve the heart health of communities throughout Australia,” Mr Moleta said.
“This iconic building provides innovative, holistic, patient-centred care, world-leading research and education. Congratulations to all those involved on such an excellent project,” he said.
At the Gala dinner on Wednesday evening, Stephanie Petrevski from Charter Hall took home The APP Group Award for Future Leader of the Year.
John Holland was also awarded the Grosvenor Place Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (more than 250 employees) while Placemaking NSW won the Grosvenor Place Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (less than 250 employees) and TOGA Group’s Meanwhile Use at The Central Project took home the NBN Award for Product, Program or Service Innovation.
In collaboration with RLB since 1982, the prestigious awards have promoted excellence in design and innovation in the built environment. From 121 eligible finalists, the winners were selected by a high calibre judging panel made up of 19 property specialists and chaired by Adrian Harrington.
ENDS
Media contact: Rhys Prka | 0425 113 273 | [email protected]
Ellie Laing-Southwood | 0416 007 830 | [email protected]
2024 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall
Innovation & Excellence Awards National Winners
| Category | Winner | State | Nominated by |
| RP Infrastructure Award for Best Affordable Housing Development | Chermside Affordable Housing | QLD | The Salvation Army |
| Hames Sharley Award for Best Business or Industrial Park | IVE Group
|
VIC | Frasers Property Industrial
|
| Colorbond Steel Award for Best Master Planned Community | Arcadia | VIC | Satterley |
| Investa Award for Best Mixed Use Development | ONE Subiaco | WA | Blackburne |
| Colliers Award for Best Office Development | Salesforce Tower | NSW | Lendlease |
| Aqualand Award for Best Residential Development | ONE Subiaco | WA | Blackburne |
| Wilson Parking Award for Best Tourism & Leisure Development | Lyf on Oxford, Pincho Disco and Orlo | VIC | Urban |
| Holmes Award for Best Heritage Development | Capella Sydney | NSW | Essence Project Management, Make Architects & Built |
| RLB Award for Best Public Art Project | 101 Collins Street Evolution | VIC | JLL |
| Woods Bagot Award for Best Public Building | Victorian Heart Hospital | VIC | John Holland |
| GHD Design Award for Best Sustainable Development | Quay Quarter Tower | NSW | Dexus – Quay Quarter Tower |
| Yardi Award for Best Workplace Project | NSW Government Workplace Hub at 6 Parramatta Square | NSW | Property & Development NSW |
| Procore Award for Development Innovation | 38 Albermarle Street | VIC | Assemble |
| NBN Award for Product, Program or Service Innovation | Meanwhile Use at The Central Project | Not Applicable | TOGA Group |
| Property Council of Australia People’s Choice Award | 6&8 Parramatta Square | NSW | Walker Corporation |
| Property Council Academy Award for Best Shopping Centre Development | Bankstown Central Grand Market Redevelopment | NSW | Vicinity Centres |
| Grosvenor Place Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – More than 250 employees | John Holland | Not Applicable | John Holland |
| Grosvenor Place Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Less than 250 employees | Placemaking NSW | Not Applicable | Placemaking NSW |
| The APP Group Award for Future Leader of the Year | Stephanie Petrevski | Not Applicable | Charter Hall |
| RLB Australian Development of the Year | Victorian Heart Hospital | VIC | John Holland |