The same architects behind the striking pinecone-inspired facade of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) building in Adelaide are on track to deliver a neighbouring facility that also puts energy efficiency at the heart of its design.
In the design of the new 31,000-square-metre clinical and research facility, Woods Bagot architects are striving for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Gold building certification. LEED Gold certification was also achieved by the original SAHMRI building, making it Australia’s first laboratory to qualify for the top rating.
The new building will have to meet the bolstered criteria of the latest version of the international rating system – LEED v4. The first SAHMRI building was certified under the previous edition.
Speaking to The Fifth Estate, Woods Bagot spokesperson Anoop Menon said the decision to use the international rating system was to attract global research and medical talent to Adelaide, as LEED has more recognition globally.
SAHMRI 2, as the building is informally known, notably features a facade with sun shading system, rainwater capture for bathroom facilities, and will leverage locally sourced materials for the build.
Situated near the original SAHMRI facility in the Adelaide BioMed City precinct, the new $300 million building will “complement and accentuate” the geometric facade of the existing facility that was inspired by the natural contours of a pine cone.
Wary not to obstruct the view of surrounding parkland for SAHMRI 1, parts of the second building require a degree of transparency, which will also help bring natural daylight into the interiors.
The building will house Australia’s first proton unit for cancer treatment. Proton therapy allows radiation oncologists to target cancerous tumours directly with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
An emphasis on integrating landscape into the design of the building will “promote a flexible and healthy environment” for the clinicians, staff and patients who will be using the building.
Also included in the SAHMRI 2 build is Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec (civil / structural engineers), Aurecon (building services engineers), MasterPlan (planner), Katnich Dodd (certifier), Cundall Johnston & Partners (ESD consultants), Atelier JV (facade engineers), and Rawtec (waste).
Key sustainability features of the building include:
- passive building design, using orientation, shading, facade design and thermal mass to minimise the use of energy to condition the building
- a sustainable site strategy, including an erosion and sediment plan for all construction works
- minimised on-site car parkingto encourage alternative transport options where feasible
- end of trip bicycle facilities for five per cent of full-time building occupants
- energy efficient designthroughout the building, allowing it to achieve a minimum five per cent energy efficiency improvement over the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 standards
- water efficient design, including rooftop rainwater capture for reuse in toilet flushing and high efficiency hydraulic fitting and fixtures
- a healthy indoor environmentthat will ensure outside air quantities to be provided at a minimum 50 per cent above the Australian Standard requirements