Peninsula University Hospital

People-centric design for Country

Peninsula University Hospital

The people-centric approach to the Frankston Hospital Redevelopment and expansion of the existing hospital provides a connected health campus that embodies the spirit of Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula communities as a welcoming, safe place for patients and health employees.

The architectural design of the new 12-storey tower and podium form part of a composition of elements that respond to the adjacent parklands and local coastal context of the peninsula with its massing, rusticated façade, palette of natural materials and landscaped interventions. A new main entrance is also crowned by a generous sculptural verandah that evokes the coastal setting.

The masterplan unifies the campus by linking the extensive green spaces, defining the new entrance and integrating the new tower with the existing hospital.

Mark Healey

Director, Bates Smart

The interior design offers an uplifting, calm and intuitive journey throughout the hospital with expansive natural daylight, access to courtyards and views to the bay, city and peninsula.

Each overnight patient room is located high in the tower providing light filled rooms with unobstructive views and connection to the local landscape, increasing the amenity and healing experience for each patient. The dedicated patient, public and staff wintergardens on each clinical floor further allow access to views of the surrounding landscape and access to fresh air for the occupants.

The project is infused with the guiding principle of Healing Country, Healing People co-created with the Bunarong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation. This approach is reflected throughout the hospital’s design, which offers a series of contextual and inclusive spaces and art strategy. The outcome was consciously crafted to foster greater awareness of the interconnectedness between individual wellbeing and broader community health outcomes. By integrating this philosophy, the redevelopment promotes a sense of collective healing, emphasising the vital link between place, people, and health.

Cian Davis

Director, Bates Smart

The redevelopment provides an additional 130 beds, 15 new operating theatres, new spaces for mental health and oncology services, a new helipad, as well as expanded women’s and children’s services. An expansion of the emergency department will deliver a new mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub and a dedicated paediatric zone, providing specialist care for patients, families and carers. The addition of new wards and points of care will increase capacity to treat approximately 35,000 more patients each year.

The project provides enhanced environmental sustainability with the new tower adopting an all-electric energy solution, resulting in carbon neutral power use from day one.

Main construction on the Victorian Government’s Frankston Hospital Redevelopment has been completed for the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with the Exemplar Health consortium (comprising Capella Capital, Honeywell, Compass Group and Lendlease) and Bayside Health. Bates Smart and Architectus provided architecture, interior design and clinical health planning.