Palmerston’s new 116 bed hospital on a greenfield site has an emergency department, day procedures facility, inpatient beds, maternity services and ambulatory health care services including outpatient services. Designed with flexibility and adaptability in mind, the facility is suitable for future expansion.  Passive design strategies include north/south building orientation and shading strategies creating micro climates in a building envelope designed for IL4 cyclonic conditions.

The site planning is defined by a central north/south circulation spine that creates an expansive interior arcade to the hospital. This arcade continues as external walkways through to outdoor areas creating strong urban connections to the wider precinct.  These linkages create spaces that welcome the whole community into this human-centred, wellness focused environment. The hospital buildings are gently immersed in landscaped surroundings with welcoming courtyards and interior greenery creating a less institutional, more therapeutic experience for patients, staff and visitors.