A Melbourne office tower is undergoing a transformation to become the first adaptive reuse high-rise aged care building in Australia. Multidisciplinary design practice Fender Katsalidis is converting the former Australian Unity headquarters into a 15-storey residential aged care facility, with construction commencing on-site by Hutchinson Builders.

The project, at 114 Albert Road, South Melbourne, is stage two in Australian Unity’s precinct and will sit adjacent to retirement living building The Grace, also designed by Fender Katsalidis.

Jessica Lee, principal at Fender Katsalidis, says the scale of this project makes it unique and signifies a new wave of the vertical aged care typology.

“Adaptive reuse in aged care is not entirely new but it has never been done on this scale before in Australia,” she says.

“We are excited to be leading the way for urban renewal by converting a high-rise office building to aged care in a new phenomenon that fills a gap in the market.

“This project is innovative through the ability to take a 15-storey tower and give its entirety a new life as purpose-built and high-care accommodation for age-qualified Australians.”

With Australian Unity both the owner and former occupier of the building, as well as an aged care provider, Lee says the solution made sense for the site.

“It’s unique and not something that could easily happen again and again, despite it being environmentally sustainable and offering aged care services right next to the city.

“To ensure that well-located projects can continue to be delivered, it’s natural for operators to be looking at adaptive reuse and verticality that offers a smaller footprint impact,” she adds.

Located opposite Albert Park Lake, the building will include both household model aged care and assisted living apartments, fulfilling the vision of a vibrant and connected community for older people. Apartment style accommodation and large suites will enable couples to stay together.

Beverly Smith, executive general manager residential communities, says, “The aged care building will provide a choice of accommodation and services, adaptable to meet individual and changing needs. The opportunity for restaurant dining will be provided in a beautiful and age friendly setting and will enable residents to take in stunning rooftop views.”

The building will feature on-site wellbeing and rehabilitation facilities, a street facing café, cinema, kids and grown-up’s media room and a range of common and outdoor spaces overlooking the lake and bay. It will also provide connectivity to The Grace and a continuum of care model with many of its residents expected to move into the aged care building later in life.

One of the biggest challenges was devising a design solution that worked around the existing structure of a 50-year-old office building encompassing a central core and offices around that plate.

“Commercial and aged care buildings are inherently different in that they each serve a distinct purpose, however, where they are similar is through communal engagement which we are weaving throughout the precinct.

“We are creating a sense of vertical connectivity by developing smaller neighbourhoods within the single building, inserting new openings within the existing structure and enabling connection through sight, sound and smell. The renewal of the tower prioritises accessibility and safety,” says Lee.

The building’s adaption has been thoughtfully resolved to deliver Australian Unity’s unique Better Together small household model, which they have been designing, building and operating for over 10 years.

The aged care building is expected to be completed in October 2022.

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