Three Projects, Three Contexts

HSPC Health Architects approaches healthcare design with a deep commitment to clinical function, user experience, and long-term adaptability. Our design process begins by understanding how healthcare is delivered, not just from a medical standpoint but in terms of how patients, staff and visitors move through space and experience care.

“We align spatial solutions with operational goals, aiming to create facilities that are efficient, intuitive and welcoming.”  -Lauren O'Donnell, Senior Associate-

Each healthcare project unfolds within a unique geographic, environmental and regulatory context. Town planning requirements, landscape conditions and state-based health infrastructure guidelines vary across jurisdictions, meaning that no two projects follow the same planning pathway. What remains consistent is our focus: designing spaces that support quality care, encourage healing and anticipate future needs.

This case study looks at three recent projects: Eastwood Hospital in Adelaide, Maroochy Hospital on the Sunshine Coast, and the Footscray Clinical Hub in Melbourne. Each is located in a different state, governed by different health policies, and shaped by distinct urban and environmental factors. Together, they illustrate HSPC’s adaptable methodology and our ongoing commitment to healthcare environments that serve people and place.

Eastwood Hospital

Adelaide, South Australia

Located within a dense commercial precinct in inner-metropolitan Adelaide, Eastwood Hospital required careful integration with its urban surroundings. South Australia’s planning code and hospital design standards emphasised contextual responsiveness, traffic impact mitigation and community interface. HSPC’s design balanced privacy and access while working within the boundaries of SA health guidelines. The result is a compact, efficient facility that sits harmoniously within its neighbourhood while delivering high-quality inpatient and outpatient care.

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Maroochy Hospital

Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Maroochy Hospital is set within a fast-growing coastal area where greenfield planning and future population growth drove design priorities. Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) required a robust response to climate, flood risk and local service delivery models. Our approach focused on adaptability, sustainability and long-term operational flexibility. Large roof overhangs, passive cooling strategies and a strong indoor–outdoor connection respond to the subtropical environment. This hospital not only serves immediate clinical needs but also acts as a scalable platform for innovative healthcare expansion.

Footscray Clinical Hub

Melbourne, Victoria

Situated in a highly urbanised zone within Melbourne’s west, the Footscray Clinical Hub was developed under the guidelines of the Development Facilitation Program. The site’s constraints, including tight boundaries, surrounding transport infrastructure and complex stakeholder engagement, required a high level of coordination and precision. Our team worked closely with the state government, clinicians and urban planners to shape a facility that prioritises accessibility and workflow efficiency. The result is a vertical clinical hub that consolidates services while preserving clear wayfinding and a strong community presence.

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“Our work is rooted in an understanding of how care happens in real time and in real places. By aligning clinical insight with spatial intelligence, we design healthcare environments that are not only technically sound but also emotionally supportive.” -Matthew Szymula, Principal-

These three projects demonstrate how architecture can adapt to diverse clinical requirements, regulatory frameworks and urban contexts. Whether in metropolitan Adelaide, the inner suburbs of Melbourne or a new growing city on the Sunshine Coast, each hospital required its own planning strategy, guided by local conditions and health system expectations. Yet, they are united by HSPC’s core design values: clarity, functionality and adaptability.