UNSW and Plenary to drive health research, education outcomes via Health Translation Hub

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – UNSW Sydney has contracted the Plenary Group-led Plenary Health consortium to deliver the $600 million Health Translation Hub – one of the marquee developments within the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct.

The long-term partnership involves Plenary Health 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 will be open to industry, providing a golden opportunity for like-minded partners to co-locate with the university and within the hospital precinct.

The project is being fully funded by Plenary Group and industry superannuation fund-backed property investor ISPT, together with HESTA and UniSuper, the health and education sector superannuation funds. Plenary – Australia’s leading investor, developer and manager of property and public infrastructure – is also development and asset manager for the project, Hansen Yuncken has been engaged as the design and construction partner and Architectus as lead architect.

Building on more than 60 years of teaching hospital affiliations, the Health Translation Hub realises the university’s long-term aspiration to work in close partnership with the NSW health institutions on the Randwick Health Campus.

The Health Translation Hub 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.

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.

The building will have direct connections to the Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre currently under construction and to UNSW’s Kensington Campus. It will be situated adjacent to the recently completed Prince of Wales Hospital Acute Services Building, enabling seamless integration with UNSW and the four hospitals at Randwick and putting the precinct at the forefront of international health research and education.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said that the university and community will benefit from the long-term partnership with the Health Translation Hub and Plenary.

“No single organisation can solve the complex healthcare challenges facing our communities today. UNSW has a unique opportunity to co-locate with our Randwick Health Campus – an opportunity more than 60 years in the making,” Professor Brungs said.

“A state-of-the-art facility, the Health Translation Hub will physically connect UNSW to the hospitals and enable a seamless and integrated work, research and education environment. We will discover unmet clinical needs faster, connect real-world health issues more efficiently to our researchers and industry partners, and facilitate a hands-on learning opportunity for our students.

“Through our partnerships with government, industry and academia, we will revolutionise the way health care is delivered.”

Plenary Group CEO David Lamming said it was a professional privilege to be chosen to partner with UNSW following a competitive tender process on one of the premier projects of its kind in Australia.

“Plenary is delighted to be part of such an important project, one that merges our experience in life sciences projects and precinct development to help deliver brilliant health research and education outcomes,” Mr Lamming said. 

“This is right on strategy for us. Our experience in the formation of long-term partnerships to deliver complex projects here and overseas, combined with the depth of experience that we have built in the health and life sciences space, make us ideally placed to deliver on UNSW’s vision of bringing people together to research, innovate and learn and have a true community impact.”

Construction is set to begin in 2023 and is expected to be completed in the second half of 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 our foundation in 1949, our 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 50 universities in the world with over 65,000 students and a 7000+ 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; and 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 77 assets under management worth more than $48 billion across Australia, North America and the Middle East. plenary.com

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

With over 100 years of experience, 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 a multi-award-winning Australian architecture and design studio specialising in aviation, commercial, defence, education, health, infrastructure, interiors, living, public, rail, and urban futures. Its practice operates as a single studio with more than 430 staff working across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. architectus.com.au