Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital, Queenstown

Offering a residential feel for post-surgery recovery, the building connects patients with the natural environment, helping them regain vitality and strength. The hospital aims to create an environment where wellness is the foundation of the patient experience. Spaces have been intentionally embedded with the ambience and quality of a hotel, with curved surfaces and warm materials used to help reduce patient anxiety.

Sustainability

The project sets a new benchmark for energy use in New Zealand hospitals (both public and private). Early data suggests the facility is on target to achieve the lowest carbon emissions of any of the existing Southern Cross hospitals with data collection presently underway to support Toitū net carbonzero benchmarking and reporting.

Context

The design takes inspiration from the nearby Kawarau River. The surgical block has a precast concrete panel façade, taking cues from the river rocks while the timber clad ward wing and staff areas soften the building form and add a sense of warmth often associated with smaller scale, residential architecture.
 

Patient wellbeing

Access to daylight and green landscaping post-surgery assist in patient recovery. The interior maximises the use of natural light and the quality of air indoors without compromising the strict infection prevention and control standards expected of a surgical facility. All patient-occupied spaces, including waiting, theatres, recovery spaces, nurse stations, ward rooms and main reception have access to natural daylight. Patients can choose to utilise natural ventilation in ward rooms while building controls maximise the utility of natural ventilation in the public waiting area.