The project included the design and construction of Early Works (demolition, services diversions) and Main Works for the 7-storey,10,000m2 Translational Research Facility (TRF) located at Monash Medical Centre, Clayton. The TRF facility included PC2 wet laboratories, platform technologies (including cell therapy and medical geonomics), clinical trials hub, satellite pharmacy, education and seminar spaces, office accommodation and retail. The project involved complex stakeholder management with multiple project partners and funding sources, included the Commonwealth Government and partner funding.

Johnstaff led the project team in all phases of the project, including feasibility, schematic design, design development, contract documentation, tender and award, contract administration and commissioning and handover. Johnstaff facilitated development of the functional brief and design to consider flexibility, including future-proofing provisions such as expansion and shell floors. We also provided analysis and recommendations for procurement strategies that best suited the needs of the project and project stakeholders.

The site posed significant challenges, including latent condition risks associated with existing infrastructure and assets and building on a live hospital campus. Johnstaff worked closely with Monash Health on a procurement strategy that included an Early Works package to help de-risk the site ahead of the Main Works.

The design process was highly complex and captured requirements across a large cohort of clinical and research end users.Johnstaff worked closely with Monash Health and the design team to implement robust project governance and collaboratively design a management framework to define the project scope. Residual design risks for the Main Works were managed during the construction phase via a Managing Contractor procurement methodology with a guaranteed maximum price, which included novation of the design team.