THE IDEA

The new Health Centre accommodates diverse services provided by Monash Health, Monash Health Community, Cardinia Shire Council and a number of other service providers. The services offered at the site include maternity, child and family, counselling, community health, specialist clinics, Casey adult mental health services, pathology, pharmacy, maternal child health nurses, mecwacare and Casey Cardinia Legal service.

Bringing together this service offering under one roof provides opportunities for better integrated and multi-disciplinary care for the Pakenham community in purpose developed facilities.  The co-location of maternity and children’s services will better support families and bringing rehabilitation and support services for the elderly together will have similar benefits.  As a larger centre there is also the potential to have extended hours of operation including for community support programs and out of hours immunisation services to make access easier for working parents.

THE SOLUTION

The design places clinical and consulting areas around the perimeter of the building to take advantage of the views and natural lighting, and the reception area at the centre to assist with accessibility and wayfinding. Large volume spaces such as the rehabilitation gym and multi-purpose spaces were located to take advantage of existing building features such as highlight windows and high raked ceilings.

The interior design scheme shapes a distinct sense of identity for the facility, combining a neutral colour palette of muted greys, with angled forms and geometric patterns, punctuated with a palette of bright feature colours representing the different clinical areas. A new, cantilevered entry canopy was incorporated into the design, signalling the building’s redevelopment as a health hub while remaining sympathetic to the surrounding built form and neighbourhood character.

THE IMPACT

The Pakenham Health Centre project transformed the former Cardinia Shire Council offices into a new integrated health facility, enabling the consolidation of a range of health services that were previously located across numerous sites.