Waipapa Christchurch Hospital (Christchurch Acute Services)
Waipapa is New Zealand’s largest ever public hospital project – and the most resilient. Bordering the expansive landscape of Hagley Park, the building occupies land immediately adjacent to the existing hospital buildings. The new facilities, in particular patient bedrooms, feature innovative planning, outstanding views and natural light, all of which contribute to patient recovery and a supportive working environment. Future clinical service needs are also incorporated with modular planning supporting adaptability, as well an expansion allowance for a future 160-bed ward tower.
As a base-isolated Importance Level 4 facility, Waipapa is designed to remain fully operational and able to provide acute clinical services immediately post-disaster.
Wellbeing at the core of collaborative design
The world-class medical facility has been designed to enhance the delivery of healthcare with video-calling technology allowing for virtual consultations, and the latest in fixtures and fittings to support holistic health delivery. The hospital, built to the highest seismic rating, also meets the latest Australasian health facility standards.
Katoa’s health design team’s collaborative approach to the project ensured the complex needs and sensitive circumstances of all acute clinical services were fully incorporated in the new building.
The building has two main cladding materials. Locally sourced precast panels to the podium and a locally manufactured curtain wall façade to the ward towers. A structural steel frame was used to improve seismic performance and reduce overall weight. Two tower cranes were located to provide coverage to this expansive site.
The design process for the building has been clinically led and has involved hundreds of clinical staff working alongside architects, health planners and the public. Warren and Mahoney, in conjunction with Chow:Hill and Thinc Health, as Katoa Health Design provided architectural services for this significant new building.
