Photo by Mark Zed, courtesy of Hansen Yuncken.
HMRB UPDATE
JUNE 2024
Welcome to the final construction newsletter for Flinders University’s
Health and Medical Research Building (HMRB).
Officially Open!
In mid-June, Flinders University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling was joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and hundreds of invited guests to officially open the HMRB.
Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling said the HMRB is a game-changer in medical research, turning breakthrough research and clinical trials into real benefits for Australians in disease prevention and treatment.
“Flinders is redefining healthcare”, said Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling. ”The HMRB is a major leap forward, building on Flinders’ 50-year legacy of health innovation. It supports our rapid research growth and paves the way for discoveries that solve challenges and improve lives.”
With space for over 600 medical researchers, clinicians and support staff over ten floors, with nearly 1000 rooms and 22,000m2 of research space, the $280 million, ten-storey landmark is poised to tackle the most pressing health challenges of our time, from chronic diseases and Indigenous health disparities to pioneering treatments for diabetes, infections and cancers.
Premier Peter Malinauskas, Member for Boothby Louise Miller-Frost MP, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling and Chancellor John Hood - greeted by Uncle Mickey Kumatpi Marrutya O'Brien.
The building is one of Australia’s most sustainable research institutions and is on track to achieve Gold WELL and LEED certification for sustainability and wellbeing. It is also the first medical research facility in the world to achieve a coveted Platinum WiredScore rating for best-in-class digital connectivity.
100% of the building’s power is from renewable energy running through almost 200km of electrical cabling.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Flinders University’s Health and Medical Research Building will be making breakthroughs and changing lives for the better for many generations to come.
“When I speak about a Future Made in Australia – this is what it looks like. Australian research, hard work and ingenuity keeping us at the global cutting edge.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas said boosting the quality and volume of research undertaken in South Australia is fundamental to increasing the complexity of our economy.
“This is the key to unlocking a better standard of living for all South Australians. To this end, Flinders University is a leader. It has posted the strongest growth rate in research income of any university in the country across the past five years.
“But more than that, the research undertaken at this incredible new facility will help save lives.”
Uncle Mickey Kumatpi Marrutya O'Brien conducted the Welcome to Country at the event and guests were able to tour the facility and view the world class, life changing research underway at Flinders.
Premier Peter Malinauskas, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Flinders University Chancellor John Hood, Member for Boothby Louise Miller-Frost MP and Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling discuss research with Professor Damien Keating, Deputy Director of the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute.
Connections to Country
Cultural narratives are helping to shape Flinders’ campus developments and infrastructure projects by respecting and recognising people and Country, honouring long-held knowledges and philosophies and embedding meaning through careful consideration of how buildings and landscapes are sited on Country.
Flinders University acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which its campuses are located. The HMRB is located on Kaurna Country. Thank you to Senior Elder on Campus, Uncle Lewis Yarlupurka O’Brien for sharing the Rainbow Country cultural narrative and artists James Tylor and Aunty Yvonne Koolmatrie, in collaboration with Karl Meyer, for the HMRB artwork featured in this video.
The HMRB incorporates a cultural narrative shared by Senior Elder on Campus Uncle Lewis Yarlupurka O’Brien. “This is Rainbow Country. It’s about the land… Follow the lines of rainbow sands”.
The building’s exterior design reflects sedimentary layers and uses ochre and terracotta coloured materials. The building’s facades point to views of significant Kaurna landmarks, while inside the colour palette reflects the vibrancy of rainbow sands, and natural elements including the use of wood, terracotta tiles and organic shapes make for a calm and peaceful environment.
Photo by Shannon McGrath, courtesy of Architectus.
Beautiful Indigenous artwork has also been used inside and outside the building.
Yamalaitji ngurikawi wurri (first blossom acacia seed), was created by Ngarrindjeri artist Aunty Yvonne Koolmatrie and collaborating artist Karl Meyer.
The artwork was inspired by the organic shapes of the acacia plant and reflects the rich medicinal traditions of the First Nations peoples.
The façade and foyer also feature etchings created by artist James Tylor.
This Kaurna Kuri design was inspired by body painting for the Kuri ceremony and represents the coming together of people to exchange knowledge and information – a strong link to the collaborative research underway in the building.
Photo by Mark Zed, courtesy of Hansen Yuncken.
Planting the Seeds of our Success
At the announcement event for HMRB back in December 2021, 5 tiny gum tree seedlings were planted as an alternative to the usual sod turning ceremony. At the time, Professor Stirling said “we are marking the occasion by sowing the seeds of our future success in the form of bush medicine plants. These will be nurtured from seedlings, and then planted to create an indigenous garden that will be a cultural focal point of the final development.”
The trees made a reappearance at the topping out ceremony in April 2023 and have now been planted back into the garden at the HMRB. Thank you to Flinders’ grounds team for carefully nurturing the trees over this time.
Vice President and Executive Dean, College of Medicine and Public Health Professor Jonathan Craig; Chief Financial Officer Richard Porter; Director Property, Facilities and Development Dr Shane Jennings; Associate Director Strategic Projects (HMRB and Village) Michelle Gheorghiu; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Ray Chan and Vice-President Corporate Services Mark Gregory.
Seedling planting – building announcement, December 2021 and Topping Out Ceremony, April 2023 (above).
Extensive landscaping has been undertaken around the HMRB with 16 varieties of Eucalyptus, Banksia and Angophora trees and 40 varieties of shrubs and ground covers, which frame the garden’s central fire pit and provide a welcoming new gateway to the campus.
Just some of the plants with medicinal qualities include:
- Native hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa) traditionally used to treat tooth ache, cuts and stingray stings.
- Gold Dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea) demonstrated to treat aches, pains and infections.
- Black Anther Flax Lily (Dianella brevicaulis) - the berries contain antiviral properties and antioxidants and parts of the stems and leaves have strong antiviral and anti-microbial properties.
A Glimpse Inside
Informal meeting space (above). Photo by Mark Zed, courtesy of Hansen Yuncken.
Interiors reflecting the colours of the Rainbow Yarta across carpets and furnishings (above).
Photos by Shannon McGrath, courtesy of Architectus.
Informal meeting spaces and staff kitchen (above). Photos by Mark Zed, courtesy of Hansen Yuncken.
Internal stairwell. Photo by Mark Zed, courtesy of Hansen Yuncken.
Stay in Touch
Thanks to everyone who has shared our construction journey. The journey continues... Flinders' life changing research is here in the building! You can find out more by staying in touch with:
Support the HMRB
We know that when we come together for a common goal, we can achieve great things and transform lives.
That's why we're reaching out to our Flinders community – please join us to support the vital research taking place within the HMRB, so that our researchers can change lives and change the world.
