Guymer Bailey Architects has been appointed to lead the detailed design of a major upgrade of forensic mental health services at the Thomas Embling Hospital in Melbourne’s Fairfield.
The $349.6 million expansion will deliver a dedicated 34-bed women’s precinct, a 48-bed medium security men’s facility and clinical administration facilities.
The Victorian Health Building Authority said that with significant growth in forensic patients and increasing demand for mental health beds in the justice system, the project would ensure that Victorians most at risk can access mental health services in a secure, contemporary and recovery-focused environment.
Located adjacent to extensive parklands in suburban Melbourne, the Thomas Embling Hospital is operated by Forensicare (Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health), the state-wide specialist provider of forensic mental health services in Victoria.
An earlier expansion of the hospital, delivering the Secure Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit designed by MAAP Architects and Designinc, won the 2020 Mental Health Design Award category at the European Healthcare Design Awards.
The Secure Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit at Thomas Embling Hospital, designed by MAAP Architects and Design Inc.
Image: VHBA
The latest development will aim to reduce wait times for mental health assessment and treatment, reduce incidents of mental health deterioration and self-harm and increase access to services for female patients.
Construction is set to commence in mid-2022, with completion scheduled for 2024.
Enginnering firm Aecom has been appointed alongside Guymer Bailey Architects.
