New six storey cancer centre with gardens and communal spaces to be built

A new $94m cancer hospital will be built in Melbourne to boost melanoma research and clinical trials, with a facade designed to look like layers of human skin.

A new world class cancer hospital will be built in Melbourne to bolster Victoria’s “high-end research’’ and treatment of the deadly disease.

The $94 million, six storey, cancer centre with gardens and communal spaces will be built in St Kilda Rd after the city council approved expansion of the Alfred Health precinct.

The landmark new building will house the Victorian Melanoma and Clinical Trials Centre – a 31.2m-high building with overnight, same-day and outpatient care, education spaces, medical offices, laboratories and therapy rooms.

New images reveal what the new Victorian Melanoma and Clinical Trials Centre in St Kilda Rd will look like. Picture: Supplied

Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said the City of Melbourne had approved a planning permit for the hospital to enhance Victoria’s cancer treatment, life saving clinical trials and melanoma research.

“This is an incredibly exciting development for Melbourne which will add to our reputation as a hub for world-leading medical research,’’ he said.

“For many years Melbourne has attracted significant investment in research facilities.

“The new Victorian Melanoma and Clinical Trials Centre will join the city’s long list of research institutions … and the vast Melbourne University medical precinct.’’

Federal and state government funding will be poured into construction of the hospital at 545 St Kilda Rd, west of the main Alfred Campus and diagonally opposite Albert Reserve and Fawkner Park.

The building will be wrapped in a graphic frit design, modelled on layers of human skin, that provides a ‘veil’ to filter light through the predominantly glazed wall facade.

A planning permit application said the building “can be seen as an icon, representing a global centre of excellence in research in melanoma and other cancers and one that will attract and retain the best researchers in the world”.

About 240 staff will work in the hospital, with a ‘wellness garden’’ and direct access to the existing Alfred precinct part of the plans.

“Cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed major illnesses in Australia, affecting tens of thousands of people every year,’’ he said.

“The new melanoma centre is going to save lives by contributing to vital research needed to find new treatments and a cure for cancer.”

A three storey brick apartment building has already been demolished on the site, between Commercial Rd and Moubray St, to make way for the development.

A report certifying that the building does not infringe or impact vistas of The Shrine of Remembrance must be completed before it starts operating.

Construction is expected to start next year, be completed by late 2023 and the hospital is likely to be operational by early 2024.

In a statement, the Alfred said: “The establishment of this specialist centre is a win for cancer care and for clinical trials, and we’re delighted to have achieved planning approval”.

“We are proud to begin work on this important build, and look forward to working with government, philanthropists and other valued partners to bring this unique project to life for the benefit of all Victorians.”

Originally published as New six storey cancer centre with gardens and communal spaces to be built