Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI)

The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) is continuing to develop its plans for a world class health and medical research facility for the Hunter region.

Following the Australian Government's May 2009 budget announcement of $35 million, HMRI is moving ahead with the construction of the building on the Rankin Park Campus of Hunter New England Health. It is anticipated that the building will be completed in the first half of 2012.

The $90 million HMRI Building will bring together more than 450 medical researchers from the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Health to improve the health of the Hunter community, boost the local economy and create more jobs.

The 16,000 square metre facility will allow co-location of of biomedical and researchers and clinical researchers to even better facilitate the effective translation of research into improved health outcomes. It will support the continued growth of HMRI, which is already the third largest medical research institute in NSW, and assist Hunter researchers to continue to deliver research of national significance.

The HMRI team continues to work with our partners in the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health and a variety of agencies, specialist consultants and contractors to facilitate the many thousands of small and large details that must be addressed in the lead up to occupation to ensure the successful delivery of this fantastic building.

For those moving in, we’ll do everything we can to make the transition as easy as possible. If there are issues for you, please contact the appropriate people … be it your user group leaders, Heads of School, the University, HNE Health or HMRI.

CLICK HERE for a full list of committee members and their functions.

Latest Building Developments

Update: 22 December 2011
The HMRI building continues to develop at a fantastic pace. HMRI and our construction project team remain focused on the provision of a quality research facility and are continuing to work cooperatively with the builder and their increasingly large workforce team to deliver this technically complex facility.

The building has approx four months of construction and concurrent commissioning to complete and despite the impact of significant periods of wet weather is expected to be completed on April 3, 2012.

The building is currently developing in the following specific areas:

The North and South facing façade and external glazing of the East wing is complete with the exception of some louvres and minor trim and over cladding to predominantly plant areas.
The cladding of the two level POD segment of the facility are well advanced and the undercroft area below the POD should be completed by late January.
The North facing façade of the East wing is complete and the West wing is well advanced with only a small section left to complete.
Services infrastructure is also progressing well with the following significant milestones achieved.

Site substation equipment installed
Main switchboards, the diesel generator and power factor correction equipment is in place and power distribution systems well advanced
Main chilled water production plant is in place, cooling towers are ready for connection, pumps have arrived, with air conditioning fan coil units and exhaust systems progressively deployed throughout the site
Heating hot water boilers, rain water water storage tank complete, solar hot water systems ready for installation
Fire protection systems are progressing well with sprinkler and hydrant systems well advanced.
Hydraulic systems generally are progressing well, as are specialty gas distribution systems, lighting control infrastructure etc

Building fitout framework defining the locations of the specific wet and dry laboratory spaces continues to advance well, with ceilings partially completed in a number of areas making it easier each day to identify where specific groups will sit on site.
The car park areas to the East of the construction site have continued to develop and are sufficiently stable to allow them to be used as "on grade" builders parking until the closing stages of the project.

The builder will continue to progress the project throughout the Christmas break and we look forward to providing you with a further update in January 2012.

Graham Gunner
HMRI Facilities Manager

HMRI Building - Progress of Construction
Last video update 21 December 2011

HMRI Building Virtual Tour

To read the latest media announcements on the building, click on the following links:

Media enquiries:
Mark Rothfield, HMRI Communications Manager, phone (02) 4921 4841 or 0487 617 055.

Information for Researchers

If you have any ideas or questions about, please send an email to building@hmri.net.au.

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