Five-storey medical hub planned for multigenerational community
LOS ANGELES: A five-storey medical hub together with a now multigenerational housing community will be integrated into the existing hospital precinct.
A massive five-storey health and residential precinct has been proposed not far from one of Toowoomba’s three main hospitals.
A consortium of Queensland investors under the company name Curzon Central lodged plans on Thursday with the Toowoomba Regional Council for a medical centre project on Curzon St in East Toowoomba.
The development is based on three existing blocks covering 3700 sqm less than 200m from St Vincent’s Private Hospital and next door to the Medici Medical Centre.
The nearly 20m-tall precinct will include a mix of medical tenancies, pharmacy and cafe, along with 10 long-term apartments and 42 short-stay units on the upper floors.
An extraordinary 254 car parks have also been planned across two basement floors.
The application also included lavish concept art by Burling Brown Architects, which evoke contemporary designs seen elsewhere in southeast Queensland.
“Incorporating Indian Feng Shui design principles, this facility will revolutionise the delivery of medical services in Toowoomba (by) connecting patients and practitioners through biophilia, transparency and a warm welcoming interface to create a landmark for the community,” the architect’s report said.
Town planner Andrew Bullen’s report argued the project would not only service need for allied and specialist health facilities in Toowoomba, but also meet the demand for both short-term and permanent housing.
“The development has been purposefully designed to be of contemporary commercial scale and bulk compatible with typical medical and institutional uses prevalent in the locality,” the report said.
“The built-form and character of the development will be characterised by a consistent and contemporary architectural theme to ensure visual continuity is achieved throughout the proposed complex.
“The proposed development will satisfy a latent, unsatisfied planning need for contemporary medical, paramedical, short-term and permanent accommodation in a location directly proximate to a major health institution.”
The council’s planning department requested the applicant carry out shade diagrams as well as acoustic and lighting impact assessments given the proposal’s proximity to residential neighbours.