Tweed Valley Hospital Development, NSW

The Tweed Valley Hospital, covering a floor area of 71,000sqm, opened its doors in May 2024, ushering in a new era of advanced healthcare for the Tweed-Byron Region. Designed to meet the demands of a growing population, this modern facility offers a wide range of medical services and support facilities, including:

• Clinical Services: Emergency and surgical departments, operating theatres and recovery, maternity services, paediatric and special care nursery, intensive and close observation units, day oncology, radiation oncology, pathology and mortuary.
• Support Services: Ambulatory, rehabilitation, mental health, older person services, pharmacy, medical imaging, and central sterilising services.
• Back of House: Facilities for food services, cleaning, medical records, and loading docks.
• Additional Infrastructure: Rooftop helipad, extensive parking facilities and roadways, with provisions for future expansions.

LCI’s Contributions and Innovations

During its development, LCI was instrumental in the schematic design phase of the project, focusing on the integration of vital Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) services. LCI proposed design solutions to mitigate initial challenges posed by the proximity of oxygen and LPG services to the Asset Protection Zone (APZ). These solutions involved relocating the services to enhance safety, ensure compliance with Australian standards, and optimise maintenance and refilling processes.

LCI also advocated for the consolidation of central plant items into a single, economically viable energy centre, streamlining operations and reducing both capital and operational expenditures.

From an ESD perspective, LCI delivered:

• Compliance Modelling: Section J compliance energy modelling.
• Façade Analysis: Input on daylight and glare for façade design.
• Sustainability Certification: Strategies for achieving >45 points in the HI NSW DGN058 ESD Scorecard rating.

Additionally, during the design development phase, LCI provided peer review services for the client, covering mechanical services—including medical gas and pneumatic tubes—as well as electrical services that cover communications and security systems.