Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar nation
Western Australia
Adopting a holistic approach to wellbeing, Murdoch Square reimagines a health precinct as a thriving and inclusive community hub.
Putting people at the heart of the concept, Hassell collaborated with clients Hesperia and Aegis Health to challenge planning guidelines and unlock the site’s potential. The successful strategy embeds this complex project within the wider urban fabric, introducing a vibrant public plaza at the precinct’s core. With mature trees and native planting, it is a place to meet, to connect, or simply to find respite away from work.
Five separate buildings on a shared podium integrate public and private healthcare, commercial office, aged care, and short & long-stay accommodation. Providing connectivity between Murdoch Station and Fiona Stanley Hospital, the precinct is both thoroughfare and destination. Childcare, and food and beverage facilities address identified shortfalls in the area, and the highly successful new hotel welcomes visiting relatives and health professionals.
Murdoch Square is an exemplar for health and wellness development. Urban planning, architecture, landscape, and interior design are all cohesive in establishing a tapestry of multiple functions devoted to discovery and healing. This singularity of intent is persuasive throughout the entire project.
Establishing a vibrant inclusive agora for the Murdoch Health & Knowledge Precinct required an architectural charter of magnitude and creative skillset for its successful delivery. The redefinition of boundaries and planning guidelines was paramount to unlocking the projects vision in developing a carefully curated mixed-use development and establishing a new ‘town square’ – one of quality character and amenity that serves the broader community.
Murdoch Square is skilfully sculptured from its precinct context – extrapolating existing pedestrian and service connections – linking natural bushland and promoting important vitas. Sheltered from wind and noise and a balanced of shade and sun – its universally accessible centralised plaza is flanked by active amenities.
This ambitious project seamlessly weaves a diverse program consisting of a Hotel, Apartments, Commercial Office, Medical and Clinical suites as well as highly flexible Hospital Wards, Day Surgery, Childcare and Aged Care – into a family of five towers, connected by a shared podium and basement parking and services.
A comprehensive sustainability charter platforms this development. Well considered passive design is strategically complemented with 5 Star GBCA – As-Built rating, net carbon zero construction and operations and renewable energy sources.
The project astutely and impressively met its key challengers – COVID 19 cost increases and labour shortages – including significant value engineering, establishing five separate green title sites with multiple building classifications – all delivered under one construction contract. Carefully selected material and colour pallets offer a clever diversity – within a harmonious built framework.
Hassell’s ability to understand and bring to life our vision for a unified yet diverse precinct in the heart of Murdoch was instrumental in the project’s success. Inspired by the traditional public square where people meet and gather, our goal was to create an innovative, connected and sustainable precinct in one of Australia’s largest specialised zones.
With a carefully selected tenancy mix, and meticulous urban planning and architectural design, Murdoch Square brings together a variety of uses into one cohesive space that not only meets the needs of the present but also anticipates the demands of the future.
Peter Dean, Design Director
Ben Rees, Project Architect
Natalie Busch, Landscape Principal
John-Paul Davies, Design Team Member
Jeff Menkens, Design Team Member
John Ducey, Design Team Member
Yong Lee, Design Team Member
Kahla Murphy, Design Team Member
Mark Jeavons, Design Team Member
Peter Morris, Design Team Member
Alex Jones, Design Team Member
Kaine Jenkins, Design Team Member
Derek Tallon, Design Team Member
CY Li, Design Team Member
Alex Lockhart, Design Team Member
Ciara Murphy, Design Team Member
Renae Basso, Design Team Member
Geoff Goerling, Design Team Member
Belinda Gilby, Design Team Member
Polly Gee, Design Team Member
Natalie Louey, Design Team Member
Josette Porter, Design Team Member
Sonja Taneska, Design Team Member
Kimberley McGrath, Design Team Member
Catherine DeBicki, Design Team Member
Ryan Lucy, Design Team Member
Doug Pott, Design Team Member
Iain Roy, Design Team Member
Lloyd George, Acoustic Consultant
Resolve Group, Building Surveyor
Pritchard Francis, Civil Consultant
Floth/ETC Solutions, Electrical Consultant
Stantec, ESD Consultant
Floth/ACOR, Hydraulic Consultant
Hassell, Interior Designer
Hassell, Landscape Consultant
Johnson Group, Project Manager
Pritchard Francis, Structural Engineer
Floth/SGK, Mechanical Services Consultant
JMO Facades, Façade Consultant
Altura, Safety & Access Consultant
Strategic Fire, Fire Engineer
Firesafe, Wet Fire Services
SGK, Medical Gases