The Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD) at St Vincent’s Hospital Fitzroy has reached practical completion and evolves the State’s healthcare capabilities. The first-of-its-kind biomedical research facility brings together clinicians, scientist, and engineers from top universities, research institutions, and hospitals to share knowledge sharing and empower collaborative research. The ACMD will empower breakthroughs in chronic disease prevention, early intervention, and the use of next generation technology to deliver innovative healthcare.
MBM was engaged by St Vincent’s Hospital to provide full cost and value management services across the decant and main works phases. Victorian-based Director Edna Yeo led the MBM Quantity Surveying team supported by Associates Arnae Vargas and Lyn Yang, Executive Quantity Surveyor Shaun Sciberras, Senior Quantity Surveyor Tim Rice, Quantity Surveyor Lynda Cormie, and Assistant Quantity Surveyor Milad Elysia. MBM’s scope included cost management from masterplan through to construction with tender reviews, post contract advice, and monthly reporting services.
The innovative biomedical centre development stretched across three stages. The initial decant works prepared the legacy Aikenhead Wing and Brennan Hall Building for demolition, which was removed during the early works. The final stage delivered a new multi-level tower that houses a range of specialist biomedical facilities. The completed building spans more than 16,500 square metres and includes PC2 certified laboratories, 3D printing and bio fabrication facilities, human kinetics labs, engineering workshops, and teaching zones.
The ACMD also boasts a sustainable design that was foundational to the project’s vision. MBM worked with the design team to cost and track a range of environmental design initiatives. The facility showcases eco-friendly features such as thermal performance, high efficiency condensing boilers, occupancy sensing, daylight harvesting, and HVAC heat recovery systems.
Director Edna Yeo highlighted the exciting opportunities the ACMD presents for the Victorian community. She shared “The Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery is a generational investment in Victoria’s health and life sciences sector. It represents the type of integrated, forward-thinking infrastructure MBM is proud to support, and we congratulate St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and all delivery partners on the transformative milestone.”