To serve the rapidly growing population of Sydney Local Health District, the proposed redevelopment of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital will be the most significant upgrade in the hospital’s 140-year history and feature a new addition, upgraded emergency department, as well as expanded clinical services. The design unlocks multiple opportunities to establish a more cohesive and connected position for RPA within the Camperdown Health, Education and Research Precinct (CHERP), one of the largest and most comprehensive health and education precincts in Greater Sydney.

A new entry improves circulation between the northern arrival plaza and the primary hospital, while a pedestrian-friendly public drop-off is established with patient transport vehicles redirected to the side of the plaza. A two-storey vertical expansion over the existing RPA Building 89 will accommodate a new intensive care unit.

In the East Wing, a new 15-storey building connects to the existing hospital, reflecting the bend of Building 89, presenting a soft curve to the Sydney University Oval, cradling retained trees and opening up views from behind the building.

A public wayfinding network is anchored by a central courtyard which acts as a place of respite as well as an identifiable marker of the centre of the hospital. The existing volume is wrapped in a three-storey screen to create a calm and uplifting environment with light and views filtering into surrounding zones to link public spaces.