The institute is set to be a world-class centre of research excellence located in a medical precinct that will also be home to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital (NRAH).
The institute’s nine research modules will house up to 700 researchers looking at ways to foster innovation and improvements in health services, leading to improved health outcomes for the whole community.
The sculptural qualities of SAHMRI’s form aim to inspire and promote the building’s function.
The transparent facade showcases two internal atriums, while the building’s form is further expressed by its unique triangulated dia-grid facade inspired by the skin of a pine cone.
The form’s articulated skin adapts and responds to its environment, becoming a living organism that responds to the position of the sun.
The SAHMRI design and construction team are working collaboratively to deliver a flexible, adaptable, healthy and sustainable facility which is on target for a LEED GOLD rating.
The key driver of the building design is to foster collaboration between researchers, achieved through architecture that allows a visual connection between floors and an interconnecting spiral stair.
Following an intensive environmental analysis with consultants Atelier 10, Woods Bagot used parametric modelling tools to integrate environmental, programmatic, and formal requirements into the facade.
“Woods Bagot’s global team worked on the project together, including designers from the Adelaide, London, New York and San Francisco studios,” said Senior Associate, Enzo Caroscio.
“Key to the success of the SAHMRI is its central proposition: a new and liberating lab typology that promotes collaboration and medical discovery, attracting the best researchers from around the world,” said Woods Bagot Principal, Peter Miglis.
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Architect: Woods Bagot
Leadership Team: Thomas Masullo, Enzo Caroscio, Peter Miglis, Anoop Menon
Civil / Structural / Facade Engineers:Aurecon
Building Services Engineers: Norman, Disney & Young
Facade Environmental Consultants:Atelier 10
ESD Consultants: Cundall
Managing Contractor: Hindmarsh
Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure: Project Risk Management
Laboratory Specialists: RFD
Cost Manager: Rider Levett Bucknall
Area: 25,000 m²
Year: 2013
Client: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
Photo: Peter Fisher, Michelle Burfield
Architect: Woods Bagot
Leadership Team: Thomas Masullo, Enzo Caroscio, Peter Miglis, Anoop Menon
Civil / Structural / Facade Engineers:Aurecon
Building Services Engineers: Norman, Disney & Young
Facade Environmental Consultants:Atelier 10
ESD Consultants: Cundall
Managing Contractor: Hindmarsh
Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure: Project Risk Management
Laboratory Specialists: RFD
Cost Manager: Rider Levett Bucknall
Area: 25,000 m²
Year: 2013
Client: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
Photo: Peter Fisher, Michelle Burfield