Wonthaggi Medical Centre

2011

Wonthaggi, VIC ∙ Boonwurrung Country

This brief, for a new private facility, necessitated three project stages. The existing medical centre had to remain operational onsite while the new centre was commissioned and constructed. Consequently, we designed the new medical centre to be built in two halves, the first of which could be independently operational for a time.

Stage 1 involved construction of the first half-building on the front lawn. Services from the existing centre were transferred into this new structure. The existing centre was then demolished, and the second half-building was commissioned and constructed. The rear carpark was added.

The overall floor plan is organised around a large, skylit central waiting room. It is flanked to the east by reception and administration offices, and to the west by a nurses’ station/triage, treatment rooms, operating theatres and stores. Wide access corridors connect these east and west flanks. The west flank incorporates two additional services: a set of allied health and radiology suites, each accessible through an entry from the side street.

Level 1 comprises a staff room and kitchen, a lecture theatre, a study and library, a large external deck and a screened space for plant tending.