Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation
Victoria
The redevelopment of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH) is an adaptive refurbishment that transforms a facility past its prime into a world-class hospital. The project combines Ophthalmology and ENT clinical spaces with translational research, focusing on improving patient experiences through salutogenic principles. The masterplan addresses nearly 150 years of disjointed growth and introduces a cohesive campus layout.
A key design goal was to create an interconnected, accessible hospital integrated with the urban environment. An 8-level “infill building” was constructed in the central void, linking the Peter Howson Wing and Smorgon Family Wing into a continuous floorplate. This reconfiguration supports a patient-centred model, improving efficiency by organizing clinical workflows by floor.
A new internal public street on the ground floor connects the hospital’s entry points, opening the space to the surrounding medical precinct and transforming the campus from a closed, inward-focused design into an open, welcoming environment.
The redevelopment of The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital provides our patients, staff and visitors with upgraded, accessible facilities including a new Emergency Department, state-of-the-art operating theatres, consolidated patient services and an expanded education precinct. The consolidation streamlines processes and enhances communication, enabling seamless transitions between treatment and consultation areas for both patients and staff. The new design and navigation of the building supports both the visually impaired and the el-derly. Lyons’ design of the redeveloped facilities improves access to specialist care, reinforc-ing our legacy of innovation and the delivery of world-class patient care well into the future.
Lyons, Principal Consultant, Design Architect, Health Planners and Interior Designers
Victorian Consulting Engineers, Structural Engineer
Victorian Consulting Engineers, Civil Consultant
Inhabit, Facade Engineer
Gardener Group, Building Surveyor
Introba, Fire Safety Engineer
Waterman Group, Services Consultant
Jacobs (ex SKM), ESD Consultant
Cardno, Traffic Engineer
AECOM, Quantity Surveyor
Nicholas Planning & Development, Town Planner
Lovell Chen, Heritage Consultant
Salus Risk, Dangerous Goods Consultant
Johnstaff Projects, Project Manager
Dianna Snape Photography, Photographer
Architecture & Access, DDA Consultant