Woods Bagot worked with the South Australian Government to establish the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). The institute’s nine research modules house up to 700 researchers looking at ways to foster innovation and improvements in health services, leading to improved health outcomes for the whole community.

The sculptural qualities of SAHMRI’s form aim to inspire and promote the building’s function. The transparent facade showcases two internal atriums, while the building’s form is further expressed by its unique triangulated dia-grid facade inspired by the skin of a pine cone.

The form’s articulated skin adapts and responds to its environment, becoming a living organism that responds to the position of the sun.

The SAHMRI design and construction team worked collaboratively to deliver a flexible, adaptable, healthy and sustainable facility, achieving a LEED GOLD rating.

Sustainability: LEED Gold
Area: 25,000 m²
Status: Committed
Completion Date: 2013
Client: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure (DPTI)
Collaborative Partners: Research Facilities Design (laboratory architect), Aurecon (structure/ civil/ facade/ traffic/ geotechnical/ wind/ specialist vibration/ electrical/ vertical transportation/ fire protection), Norman Disney Young (building services lead/mechanical/ hydraulic/ acoustics/ fire engineering/ specialist lighting), Cundall (ESD/ LEED services), CETEC (dangerous goods), ID/Lab (wayfinding and signage), Oxigen (landscape), BuildSurv (surveying consultancy), Radiation Services Consulting (radiation shielding design consultant), Disability Consultancy Services (disability), Rider Levett Bucknall (cost consultant), Hindmarsh (managing contractor)

Leadership Team: Thomas Masullo, Peter Miglis, Anoop Menon, Gavin Kain, Enzo Caroscio
Awards: Australian Institute of Architects Awards
– Commendation, Public Architecture

South Australian Architecture Awards
– Winner, Public Architecture

– Winner, Commercial Architecture

– Winner, Interior Architecture

– Winner, Sustainable Architecture
– Winner, Steel in Architecture Colorbond

WAF Awards, Future Project, Health
– Shortlist

WAN Awards, Healthcare Unbuilt
– Shortlist

WAN Awards, Façade Award
– Highly Commended

Design Institute of Australia
– Gold, Built Environment
– Winner, DIA President’s Award

– Winner, Laminex Award

Interior Design Excellence Awards
– Shortlist, Public Space

Design & Health International Academy Awards, Future Health Project
– Finalist

MIPIM Future Project Awards 2011
– Commended

Revit Technology Conference 2014, Innovation Prize (Design Technology Excellence)
– Runner-up

Australian Institute of Builders
– Professional excellence award, Commercial construction $100 million plus