July 9 2010

Laing O'Rourke has been awarded the design and construct contract for a new health centre and common user teaching facility at the Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus.

The project, which is worth more than $110 million, will comprise the design and construction of two buildings to accommodate and support the teaching, research and clinical facilities.

The 12-storey Griffith Health Centre will comprise the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Oral Health, and Psychology, and will house the university’s principal anatomy teaching facility.

The building will also include clinical facilities for delivering community health including oral health, dental care, psychology, physiotherapy, audiology and extended GP services.

The second building will be a common-use teaching facility, and will include a 600-seat lecture theatre, seminar rooms, bookshop and restaurant.

Building North Executive General Manager Lawrie Foster said Laing O’Rourke would provide full design and construction service on the project, including involvement in the selection of the successful architect.

He said the award of the project reinforced Laing O’Rourke’s strengths in the health and education sectors.

“Works such as this are quite specialised as there are very specific requirements for the medical and teaching spaces,” Lawrie said. “We will work closely with the university to ensure the two new buildings meet these requirements.”

Construction is expected to commence in 2011, with a target completion date of December 2012.

Recent Laing O’Rourke education and health works include the completion of four buildings for the University of Queensland’s School of Veterinary Science at Gatton and current works at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba.

Image courtesy of Griffith University