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 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
Connecting Sydney—Draft Western Harbour Tunnel PDLP released
The Western Harbour Tunnel draft Place, Design and Landscape Plan (PDLP) has been released to the public, capturing the breadth of the design work undertaken across the 6.5-kilometre twin tunnels spanning Rozelle…
Insight
Dr. Kahn elected on Urban Design Association NSW committee
Driving advocacy, influence and quality in the urban design profession. Urban designer, research lead and DesignInc Sydney Associate, Dr. Michael Kahn, has been elected as a committee member for the Urban Design…
Insight
Melbourne’s Senior Team Strengthens By Five
Five new senior leadership positions announced in our Melbourne studio, as two new Directors and three Principals strengthen DesignInc’s leadership team.
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.
Insight
DesignInc Opens in Darwin
DesignInc has expanded into the Northern Territory, establishing a studio in Darwin. With expertise across sectors including defence, health, education, community, workplace, residential, transport, aviation, and urban design, DesignInc will now combine its national experience with established local knowledge, having completed numerous projects across the Northern Territory over the last decade.
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.
