Hillmorton Hospital
Specialist Mental Health Services
A spectrum of therapeutic spaces designed to give whaiora and whānau freedom of choice captures the essence of the new specialist mental health facilities. Beautiful interiors together with an abundance of natural light and connection to the outdoors provides a welcoming and homely environment, creating a sense of place and inspiration to support oranga hinegaro – mental wellbeing for everyone interacting with these spaces.
This Specialist Mental Health Services project was one of the final pieces of the puzzle to consolidate all of the Te Whatu Ora Waitaha inpatient services across three campuses into one campus. The Hillmorton campus has a long history of providing psychiatric services to the Canterbury region. This project included two different buildings. An integrated family health centre providing inpatient services for Mothers and Babies, South Island Eating Disorders and Child and Adolescent services. It also provides a supportive environment for the Southern Regional Health School, outpatient facilities and a specialist day programme for child and youth.
The smaller 16-bed inpatient unit supports adult consumers with high and complex mental health needs. These consumers often have a longer length of stay whilst in inpatient care, hence the scale and nature of therapeutic spaces have been designed to support the complex and varying needs of this consumer group.
Furthermore, these purpose-built environments were designed to support healing and recovery; meeting both the physical and psychological needs of its users and providing a safe and positive environment for staff. It will support the key role of whānau in partnership of care through the journey to recovery of the user.
In a time where the health workforce is stretched and wellbeing of staff a priority, these environments are truly supportive of those who work in them, providing a safer space for staff to care for the consumers who need them, and opportunities to actively engage with people and also to decompress when needed.
This project has embraced a number of key sustainability initiatives and has achieved a 5-Star Greenstar design and as-built rating, making them the first couple of Greenstar-rated mental health units in New Zealand.
Rebecca Webster, Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury mental health facilities clinical lead, believes that the new buildings will offer a sense of hope. “I think this is going to be really life-changing for people who you know use our services but also our staff."
Awards
2024 Design in Mental Health Awards - Project of the Year | New Build International
2024 Property Industry Awards - Excellence in Civic, Health and Arts
2024 Property Industry Awards - Merit in Sustainable Building
2024 DINZ Best Awards - Gold Award in Spatial - Healthcare & Wellbeing