Menzies Research Institute and Medical Science
“The Medical Sciences buildings create a unique and integrated campus experience for contemporary teaching, learning and leading-edge scientific research. The design architecturally embraces the rich land and waterscape of Hobart providing a distinctive presence for the University on the Edge of the city.”
Adrian Stanic, Director of Lyons
The University of Tasmania Menzies Research Institute and Medical Science building is the conception of an aspiration to deliver world-class laboratories, research, clinical research and medical training facilities within one building. Co-locating open laboratories with adjacent write-up areas and seminar rooms was a core piece of the laboratory planning, embedding everyday research collaboration spaces in the building’s plan. Achieved across two separate stages of design and construction, we orchestrated and delivered this joint project between the Menzies Research Institute, the Faculty of Health Science and the Department of Health and Human Services. Aligned on a vision to build a multi-functional, health and research facility with sustainability at top of mind, we implemented innovative design solutions to meet the differing needs of all parties involved. This research infrastructure is coordinated so the precinct operates as a single, connected campus with public edges and shared academic spaces. The result is a fully integrated campus that not only enables key learning and research within medical science, but contributes to the city of Hobart, bringing a vibrant knowledge economy to the CBD.
Education & Learning
Adrian Stanic
Hari Pliambas
University of Tasmania
Medical Science Precinct, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart Tasmania 7000 Australia
Located on the traditional lands of the Muwinina people
Stage 1: 9,000 square metres
Stage 2: 10,500 square metres
Gross area: 9057 square metres
The Science 2 project was certified as the first 5 star Green Star Education project in Tasmania
Complete, 2014
“This project is extremely complex as the two future tenants have considerably different needs…Lyons have designed a building that will take Hobart into the 21st Century with an imaginative, bold building that will complement and enhance surrounding heritage architecture without trying to imitate. It will be the most architecturally unique building in the city and will act as an impressive advertisement for its tenants.”
Professor Simon Foote, Director Menzies Research Institute (2007)
At the core of the Menzies Research Institute and Medical Science project is the creation of a new teaching, learning and research culture. A culture rooted in strategic connections — from connections between students and researchers to those forged between researchers, doctors, the medical school and the broader health precinct. By treating shared rooms and circulation as part of the research facility planning, students, clinicians and scientists meet in visible zones rather than behind closed doors. Achieving this integrated and connected campus was a key challenge that was overcome in the design process, as the first stage of the precinct had not been contemplated for future extension. Flexible planning and services allow research spaces to be reconfigured as programs evolve, supporting research space optimisation without disruption. Rigorous functional planning negotiated the differing needs of each learning and research space to produce world class laboratories and teaching facilities under the one campus. The advanced laboratories, with its intensive reliance on services including fume exhausts, is located at the top of the building, whereas the teaching facilities sit on the lower levels to accommodate circulation loads on lifts and stairs. This vertical stack reduces cross-traffic and supports efficient movement for large cohorts during changeover. New generation teaching spaces are placed around a student focused hub at the centre of the campus, encouraging social interaction between staff, students and researchers.
The Menzies Research Institute and Medical Science building brings the identity of the University of Tasmania (UTAS) into the heart of the city, transforming research, education and public life. Informed by its surroundings, the design strikes a balance between communicating with the historic, scenic environment and establishing a vibrant persona for UTAS. New interventions stitch the precinct into the urban fabric through legible entries, a social forecourt and active edges. Our design weaves the heritage site into a new identity for the campus. Heritage buildings have been renovated, navigated and incorporated into the campus, while colonial era artefacts uncovered in planned architectural digs have been housed in foyer spaces. The building recognises its role as a city landmark, inviting participation from the outside in and vice versa. Large windows, a corner entrance and atrium space perpetually maintain necessary dialogue with the city. This transparency creates intuitive wayfinding from street to atrium, reinforcing a civic front door for research.
Adrian Stanic, Directors, Practice Executive
View Adrian's ProfileHari Pliambas, Directors, Practice Executive
View Hari's Profile
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