The University of Tasmania Co-Location Project is a Hobart CBD multi-level building development that will accommodate the Faculty of Health Sciences Administration and Tasmanian School of Medicine together with the Menzies Research Institute in a dedicated facility that will promote excellence in medical research and teaching.

In the presence of University of Tasmania's Vice-Chancellor Professor Daryl Le Grew, Director of the Menzies Research Institute Professor Simon Foote, Dean of the Faculty of Health Science Professor Allan Carmichael and Clinton Mead and Mike King from John Holland Fairbrother, the first sod was turned on site on 21 February 2008.

The Co-Location project was conceived back in November 2005, and since then investigations have focussed on identifying a suitable site and design concept. The CBD site chosen, on the corner of Liverpool and Campbell Streets in Hobart's CBD is ideally located for fostering links and collaboration with the adjacent Royal Hobart Hospital.

The new building will include staff accommodation, teaching and PC2 research laboratories, teaching / meeting rooms, a medical research consulting area and amenities for both staff and students, and is expected to achieve a 4 star Green Star Rating, signifying the building will be a "best practice" facility from an environmental sustainability and energy efficiency perspective.

The project is the result of the need to expand and improve the Menzies Research Institute and School of Medicine by integrating and relocating the medical teaching and research facilities within close proximity of the existing and new Royal Hobart Hospital locations within the Hobart CBD.

John Holland Fairbrother have worked collaboratively with the designers Lyons Architects in realising their vision for this iconic building façade. This is underpinned through the extensive design development and prototyping of the façade elements that has been undertaken. The façade incorporates coloured precast concrete panels with feature architectural shaped finishes ,integrally cast steel window frames and purpose manufactured double glazed window units.

Early works packages have concluded on the project site with the completion of the demolition and site backfilling whilst the initial in ground structural works have now commenced. The project is due for completion in October 2009.

Click here to read the University Media Release, 21 February 2008 PDF 1,805 KB