Description

The Westmead Millennium Institute (WMI) is headquarters for one of the largest medical research institutes in Australia. The building brings together staff traditionally housed across six sites of the Westmead Hospital campus.

The WMI building is designed to provide a flexible space that facilitates connectivity and collaboration amongst the research community, in line with WMI’s ‘bench to bedside’ approach. The design reflects the idea of ‘seeing the science’, whereby the form of the building reflects the inner workings and functions.

Laboratory areas are stacked atop each other and planned in a linear arrangement on each floorplate providing efficient services distribution, heightened PC2 circulation between floors and flexibility in the use of the laboratory areas. The structural grid responds to laboratory requirements and accommodates future expansion of the laboratory areas.

Beyond the PC2 areas an atrium provides physical interaction and views between floors, as well as natural daylight to what would otherwise be a deep floorplate, typical of research facilities. Office space, dry labs and write up areas offering optimal connection to the lab spaces can be accommodated at the ends of the labs or adjacent to and along the length of the labs.

At the lower levels, the heart of the facility and social spaces are delineated clearly, with a two storey café space opening to a large external garden and recreational area.