Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC)
The VCCC is both a building and an idea – an expression of hope and progress. Its vision is to save lives, improve survival rates, and concentrate all efforts on finding a cure for cancer. It brings together specialist cancer research, education and patient care in an extraordinary new facility, completed in 2016 – a landmark in healthcare worldwide.
Located in the heart of Melbourne’s research and biomedical precinct (the northeastern suburb of Parkville), the VCCC combines the new home of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, research and clinical facilities for Melbourne Health, and research and education facilities for the University of Melbourne.
Awards
- 2017 Victorian Architecture Medal, Australian Institute of Architects
- 2017 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, Australian Institute of Architects (AIA)
- 2017 Gold Award, Architecture (Commercial, Constructed), GOV Design Awards
- 2017 National Infrastructure Award for Government Partnership Excellence, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Awards
- 2016 Gold Award, Interior Design (Hospitality), GOV Design Awards
- 2016 Gold Award, Architecture (Constructed), GOV Design Awards
- 2013 Best Healthcare Project, World Finance Magazine Infrastructure Investment Awards
This Centre translates hope into architecture. Bringing together patients, researchers and students in the one collaborative facility, concentrates all efforts on finding a cure for cancer.
Christon Batey-Smith
Director, DesignInc Melbourne
The design team was a joint venture between DesignInc and Silver Thomas Hanley plus McBride Charles Ryan (STHDI+MCR), as part of the Plenary Health Consortium for the Victorian Government.
The architecture symbolically represents the formation of new networks and clusters of collaboration. The facade’s spiralling gesture unites the disparate activities of inpatient care, clinical day care, research laboratories, education and the public realm, into a single continuous form.
Over 13 levels, the 130,000 square metre Centre accommodates thousands of researchers, patients and students, and family support facilities. Capacity for future expansion has been integrated in the master plan.
Designed for wellbeing, with a light-filled central atrium at its core, clinical rooms are on the lower levels to simplify the patients’ journey. On Level 7, one of Australia’s largest public roof gardens is a sanctuary for patients and family. The research laboratories above enjoy outlooks to the city and beyond.
Key innovations
- Perforated metalwork, precast concrete panels, glazed brickwork, and digitally fabricated FRP colonnades are the result of engagement with the fabrication industries to produce elements directly from 3D digital files of a scale and complexity never previously achieved
- Glass panelling specially developed for VCCC to transmit no spectral colour to the interior (important for assessing and treating symptoms)
- Material selection for 25 year low maintenance and highest IEQ rating
- Low energy interior fittings and solutions throughout
An experienced team of exceptional communicators, DesignInc intuitively understood the project and client, and brought innovative alternatives to the table.
Liz Stickland
Department of Health (Design, Build and Commissioning Lead)
Insight
DesignInc Melbourne featured on the new Central Melbourne Axis Walking Tour app
The Australian Institute of Australia – Victorian Chapter has launched a Central Melbourne Axis Walking Tour on both app stores and online.
Insight
Clinical minds—a journey from genetics to healthcare architecture
This time ten years ago, Kate Reardon was working with pre-natal patients at Liverpool Hospital. Today, she is an Associate and healthcare architect at DesignInc Sydney: designing hospitals like the one she used to work in.
Insight
DesignInc is Climate Active Certified for Services and Organisation
DesignInc is proud to announce that we have achieved dual Climate Active certification, which certifies both our Services and Organisation. Currently, DesignInc is the only architecture practice in Australia that holds Climate Active certification for Service.
Insight
Kat Povey Joins DesignInc Adelaide to Lead Design Management Services
esignInc Adelaide is pleased to announce the addition of Design Management to its multi-disciplinary studio. Recognising the increasing complexity in the design and construction industries, we are introducing this new service to provide added value to our clients and their projects. We welcome Kat Povey to our Adelaide studio and look forward to her building the Design Management capability across our team.
Insight
Benalla P-12 College: Full STEAM ahead
The Benalla P-12 College STEAM Centre and Library represent a resetting of the life of this school for over 620 students, revitalising the campus and introducing STEAM-based education for Years 6-12.
Project
St Joseph’s School Hectorville Learning Building
Completing Stage 3 of its master plan, the new general learning building is the first major two-storey development for St Joseph’s School Hectorville. The contemporary learning building fosters student engagement by promoting sociability, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
The new building provides eight modern learning areas, out-of-school hours care (OSHC) facilities, and allied health consulting rooms, catering to the school’s growing student population in the northeastern suburbs. The light-filled general learning areas are connected by a contemporary learning commons, offering various group spaces, quiet study areas, and media nooks tailored to the school’s pedagogy.
