Major work underway on $600m Health Translation Hub

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Major work is underway on the $600 million UNSW Health Translation Hub, one of the marquee developments within the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Member for Coogee Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP joined UNSW and Plenary Health consortium partners on site today to mark the official start of major work.

The Health Translation Hub is a key outcome of the collaboration between the NSW Government and UNSW Sydney to strengthen the precinct and improve health outcomes for the community. It will bring together educational and medical researchers, clinicians, educators, industry partners and public health officials to drive excellence and support the rapid translation of innovative research and education into improved patient care and better community health outcomes.

The facility will be situated adjacent to the new Prince of Wales Hospital Acute Services Building and will include direct connections to UNSW’s Kensington campus, the Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre, enabling seamless integration with UNSW and the four hospitals at Randwick, putting the precinct at the forefront of international health research and education.

Opportunities to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption have been incorporated in every stage of the design and the facility is targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating under the new Green Building Council of Australia scheme.

An expansive 2,500 square metres of north-facing open public space will help to create an engaging and welcoming place for staff, students, patients, industry partners and the public.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the development was an exciting example of the NSW Government partnering with industry to create better health outcomes.

“Medical research is an essential part of providing world class healthcare,” Premier Minns said.

“This project will enable the rapid translation of research and education into improved patient care and better community health outcomes.

“We look forward to seeing this collaboration come to fruition.”

UNSW’s Provost Scientia Professor Vlado Perkovic said the Health Translation Hub will realise the university’s aspiration to improve health by working in close partnership with the leading healthcare institutions within the precinct, building on more than 60 years of partnership and teaching hospital affiliations.

“Healthcare is ripe for transformation,” Prof Perkovic said.

“Through our dynamic collaborations with government, industry and leading academia, we will catalyse and drive breakthrough innovations and address our future healthcare needs.”

The long-term development partnership involves the Plenary Health consortium funding, developing and operating the 35,600-square-metre facility, supported by an initial 20-year commitment from UNSW to occupy 65% of the available space. The remaining space is available to industry, providing a unique opportunity for like-minded partners to co-locate with the university and within the precinct.

The project is being fully funded by Plenary Group and industry superannuation fund-backed property investor ISPT, together with health and education sector superannuation funds HESTA and UniSuper.

Plenary – Australia’s leading investor, developer and manager of property and public infrastructure – is also the development and asset manager for the project, and it has engaged Hansen Yuncken as the design and construction partner and Architectus as lead architect.

Plenary Group Managing Director Sergio Calcarao said the consortium is proud to be partnering with UNSW to deliver such an important project that merges Plenary’s experience in delivering life sciences projects and precincts to help deliver brilliant health research and education outcomes.

“Our experience in delivering on the promise of complex projects here and abroad makes us ideally placed to deliver on the university’s vision,” Mr Calcarao said.

Construction is due to be completed in 2025.

About UNSW

UNSW Sydney is one of the world’s leading research and teaching-intensive universities, known for innovative, pioneering research and high-quality education with a global impact. Since its foundation in 1949, its aim has been to improve and transform lives through excellence in research, outstanding education and a commitment to advancing a just society. A member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8), a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, UNSW is one of the top 20 universities in the world with over 65,000 students and a 7,000+ strong research community. unsw.edu.au

About Plenary Health

The Plenary Health consortium is contracted to finance, design, develop and manage the Health Translation Hub. It comprises Plenary Group as developer, investor, development and asset manager and co-owner; ISPT – supported by HESTA and UniSuper – as majority investor and co-owner; Hansen Yuncken as the design and construction partner; and Architectus as lead architect.

Plenary Group is Australia’s leading independent investor, developer and manager of public infrastructure, property and precincts. Established in 2004 and headquartered in Sydney, it has grown to now comprise a portfolio of 81 assets under management worth more than $67 billion across Australia, North America and the Middle East plenary.com

ISPT is committed to creating growth for people and places through property. Its investment and healthcare expertise delivers dynamic property solutions for their tenant customers and Health Translation Hub co-investment partners HESTA, UniSuper and ISPT Core Fund. ISPT contribute to economic and social benefits in the Australian healthcare landscape through its properties ispt.net.au

Hansen Yuncken is one of the largest privately owned commercial building contractors in Australia. Since its foundation in 1918, the company has harnessed the latest in innovation to take on some of Australia’s most complex, and iconic projects hansenyuncken.com.au

Architectus is one of Australasia’s largest and most diverse design practices, combining deep expertise in every sector with critical problem-solving skills and a commitment to exceptional outcomes. Its 770+ talented designers and specialists work across 11 studios in Australia and New Zealand. It designs to make a positive and lasting impact on people, cities, and communities architectus.com.au