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PathWest Laboratory

Lead DesignersLibby Guj

Prize(s)Gold in Other Architectural Designs / Other Architectural designs, Bronze in Architecture Categories / Institutional, Silver in Architecture Categories / Urban Design

Entry Description

This important new building combines the PathWest Functions into a new building in the heart of the QEII Health Campus in Nedlands and is the first project to be undertaken in a major expansion of Health and Education Facilities, including both the Department of Health and the University of Western Australia.

The PathWest Stage 1 Laboratories building is 8,000m² comprising six above ground levels, one basement level and roof level plantroom. The building is a “designed for purpose” concrete framed structure with lightweight façade cladding to minimise building cost and construction timeframe. The site is constrained and part of a greater redevelopment proposal for the hospital campus, which will see this precinct earmarked for research and related uses. The PathWest Stage 1 Laboratory relocates existing PathWest QE11 Campus functions from older facilities as well as accommodating paediatric pathology services from Princess Margaret Hospital, and genetic pathology services for King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women (KEMH) which are now collocated.

Constructability of the building has been considered in detail particularly as access to the site is constrained by being centrally located within a busy hospital campus. The building has been designed to minimise cranage requirements wherever possible.

A concrete structural frame has been utilized to provide longevity and maintain compatibility with adjacent buildings. The façade cladding is lightweight, prefabricated and prefinished, permitting speedier construction and allowing ease of expansion for the second stage works. The structure along the western elevation has been designed to permit a new structure to be easily “clipped-on”, further enhancing the ability to expand the building.

The building comprises PC2 containment level laboratories over most floors, with a PC3 containment laboratory on the upper floor beneath dedicated plantrooms. Also included is a fully automated analysis track allowing urgent and routine samples to be processed rapidly and accurately.