Premier global contractor Multiplex has reached a critical construction milestone at the new John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct (JHHIP), with the ‘Topping Out’ of the $835 million facility. Now standing at 51 metres high, the precinct is being delivered by Multiplex in partnership with Health Infrastructure NSW and Hunter New England Local Health District.

Located on Lookout Road in New Lambton Heights, John Hunter is one of the busiest hospitals in NSW. With the region’s population forecast to grow 22% by 2036, demand for critical health services is expected to continue to rise. 

The new JHHIP will see the existing John Hunter and John Hunter Children’s Hospitals expanded to include a brand-new Acute Services Building (ASB), providing an additional 40,000 square metres of clinical floor space over seven levels with four basement levels of car parks and crowned by a double rooftop helipad.

Minister for Health Ryan Park and representatives from Multiplex and the NSW Government attended the site to mark the milestone with a traditional Topping Out ceremony.

“We’re delighted to celebrate this milestone and contribute our expertise in delivering complex healthcare projects. We look forward to completing the Innovation Precinct and helping to improve access to critical care services for the Newcastle and Hunter regions,” said Multiplex Regional Managing Director, David Ghannoum.

According to Multiplex, around 700 workers are on site each day and some 54,000 cubic metres of concrete has now been poured. 

Importantly, the project has been a significant local employment generator for the Hunter New England economy, creating 1,500 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs.

Designed by architects BVN, the new ASB will connect to the Hunter Medical Research Institute and existing John Hunter Hospital via new connections, while the new elevated garden and central pavilion with retail space will be nestled between John Hunter Hospital and the new ASB. Incorporating a ‘Designing with Country’ approach the design considers caring for the land, using sustainable materials and incorporating Indigenous connections.

Full-height glazed southern communication stairs and southern glazed façade, spanning levels two to four of the ASB, create views of the elevated garden and a connection to the existing John Hunter Hospital. 

“The architectural ambition for John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct was to design a future-oriented, sophisticated hospital that connects with the existing building and improves the site’s access issues. We designed for joy, delight, community and connection to improve the experience for patients, visitors and medical staff,” said BVN Principal, Kirstie Irwin.

Once complete, the ASB will deliver an expanded Emergency Department, increased by more than 50 per cent and designed to accommodate over 95,000 presentations per year. New inpatient maternity and neonatal intensive care units are being delivered, while the hospital’s ICU capacity will grow by 60 per cent - with capacity for future expansion. Increased demand for surgical services has also led to the addition of 50 per cent more theatres. 

Some areas of the existing hospital are being refurbished as part of the development and will deliver two new inpatient units, a new child and adolescent mental health unit, and an expanded main entrance. 

Meticulous planning and scheduling were also required to minimise impact to the live hospital campus.

Multiplex has strong credentials delivering hospitals and healthcare facilities across Australia, having recently completed the ACT Government’s landmark Canberra Hospital Expansion project. It is currently completing more than $4.3bn in health projects nationally, including JHHIP, the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital on the NSW South Coast, and the new Footscray Hospital in Victoria.

JHHIP is scheduled to reach practical completion next year.