Murdoch Square

Adopting a holistic approach to wellbeing, Murdoch Square reimagines a health precinct as a thriving integrated community. 

The first stage in the broader Murdoch Health and Knowledge Precinct development, Murdoch Square leans into a growing shift for transforming specialised healthcare precincts into inclusive community hubs.

Putting people at the heart of the concept, our design team collaborated closely with clients Hesperia and Aegis Health to challenge established planning guidelines and unlock the full potential of the site. We successfully advocated for a development strategy that embeds the project within the wider urban fabric and introduces a vibrant public plaza at the precinct’s core. With mature trees and native planting, it will be a place for people to meet, to connect, or simply to find respite away from the demands of work.

Intricately complex, the project integrates diverse building types, services, and public and private healthcare providers with innovative funding and development strategies. Our multi-disciplinary team combined a broad spectrum of expertise across healthcare, residential, commercial and hospitality design.

Five distinct buildings embrace and protect the landscaped heart of Murdoch Square, accommodating a variety of health consulting suites, clinics and treatment facilities. Short and long-stay residential provisions include aged care, mental health, NDIS apartments and Western Australia’s first medi-hotel. With a bridge link to Fiona Stanley Hospital, the hotel will play a vital role for patients who are transitioning from acute services to home, reducing demands on the hospital system.

Client

Hesperia

Location

Whadjuk Country
Perth, Australia

Status

In progress

Year

2023

Scale

50,000 sqm

Design team

Peter Dean, John-Paul Davies, Jeff Menkens, Natalie Louey, Ben Rees, Yong Lee, Mark Jeavons, Alex Jones, Peter Morris, Kahla Murphy, John Ducey, Cy Li, Kaine Jenkins, Kim McGrath, Natalie Busch, Doug Pott, Iain Roy, Sonja Taneska, Alex Lockhart, Catherine Debicki, Geoff Goerling, Derek Tallon, Ciara Murphy, Renae Basso, Sean de Boer, Toby de Boer, Belinda Gilby
April 2022
November 2022
July 2023
July 2023

The Murdoch Health and Knowledge Precinct is an ambitious project that will see the creation of a new city centre, and a centre of excellence for health, research and education.

Deputy Premier and former Health Minister, Hon. Roger Cook
  • By challenging the development guidelines we provided social value to the community by amalgamating three development lots to create a central public realm where users can meet, collaborate and enjoy the natural surroundings.
  • The arrangement of buildings in the development takes into consideration the comfort of users. This includes providing shade from the sun and protection from wind and traffic noise, creating a more pleasant and functional environment.
  • Murdoch Square is not just a pass-through space but also a destination. It attracts people travelling from the Murdoch Train Station to Fiona Stanley Hospital. The food and beverage facilities address an identified shortfall in amenities in the broader precinct, and the public open space encourages walkability. Creating an environment where people can easily move on foot, reduces the dependence on cars.
  • The landscape design includes mature trees and native plantings in the public areas. This not only enhances the aesthetics of the area but also promotes wildlife habitat and connects people to the natural environment.
  • Murdoch Square delivers a high-density development in an area traditionally characterised by low-density sprawl resulting in a more sustainable and efficient land use in the region.

Beyond healthcare, Murdoch Square offers a rich array of social amenities including on-site childcare services, dining options and spaces for relaxation. These additions encourage community bonds among both staff and visitors. A new Courtyard by Marriot Hotel will cater for families visiting patients or elderly relatives.

Looking beyond the site, the project provides connection to nearby institutions such as St John of God Hospital and Murdoch University, and the public transport network. Co-location of services promotes resource-sharing, elevates infrastructure efficiency, and reduces travel demands while fostering staff collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Facilities within Murdoch Square include:

  • Day surgery hospital, cancer treatment centre, medical imaging
  • Urgent Care Clinic
  • 182-bed aged care facility
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) apartments
  • Residential apartments
  • Commercial offices
  • 150-key international hotel with gym and restaurant
  • 80-bed medi-hotel for patients in recovery, which will reduce demand on the hospital system
  • Consulting suites
  • Retail and hospitality offerings
Related

Media

“Health precincts are about embracing diversity and a holistic approach”

Health precincts are complicated, multi-dimensional places to develop, design, deliver and operate, writes Hassell’s Ben Rees. So, ​“how do we balance commercial imperatives with the need to foster connection, community and wellbeing?” Read the Op Ed article in InDesign.

Media

Murdoch Square shares major milestone

Hassell’s Murdoch Square, Western Australia’s new state-of-the-art public health hub, has officially reached the topping out stage. The five-building precinct has been developed by Hesperia and Aegis Health, with the $450 million project drawing closer to completion. Read more in Architecture&Design.

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