Transforming Care: Delivering the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital Redevelopment

Delivering World-Class Healthcare Within a Live Clinical Environment

Meticulous planning, disciplined staging and industry-leading safety protocols underpinned the decade-long redevelopment of the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital (RVEEH) – Australia’s only specialist eye, ear, nose and throat hospital.

This landmark, multi-staged program transformed four constrained and partially landlocked buildings into a fully integrated, future-ready clinical facility, delivered within one of Victoria’s most complex live healthcare environments.

The redevelopment encompassed demolition, new construction, major refurbishments, services upgrades and the construction of a new infill building connecting previously disconnected wings across multiple levels. The completed hospital now includes:

• Eight operating theatres and 14 recovery suites
• 13-cubicle emergency department
• 42 flexible outpatient consulting rooms
• Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD)
• Upgraded pharmacy facilities
• PC2 laboratories and specialist auditory testing suites
• Fully modernised engineering infrastructure and central plant
• 126-seat auditorium and enhanced research and teaching facilities

Today, RVEEH supports more than 270,000 patient interactions annually within a significantly enhanced, integrated clinical environment.

Construction Within a 24/7 Operational Hospital

Delivering staged construction works within a fully operational hospital — surrounded by live theatres, emergency services, inpatient wards and consulting suites — required precision planning, disciplined sequencing and continuous stakeholder engagement.

Every shutdown, service diversion and plant replacement was meticulously programmed and communicated months in advance. Close collaboration with hospital management, clinical leaders and operational teams ensured patient care was never compromised.

Clearly defined separation zones, temporary partitions and structured handover protocols enabled progressive decanting and commissioning of each completed area. The result was seamless transition between construction and operational environments — a critical success factor in live healthcare delivery.

Emergency Department Expansion: Enhancing Critical Care

A key milestone was the delivery of the new emergency department, occupying the northeast corner of the hospital.

The 13-cubicle department integrates fully reclining examination chairs, electronic visual acuity systems and specialist ENT endoscopy towers, delivering faster, more efficient patient assessment and treatment within a purpose-built clinical environment.

This redevelopment significantly increased capacity while elevating patient comfort, workflow efficiency and clinical capability.

Reconnecting the Campus: The Infill Building

The construction of a new infill building was central to resolving longstanding circulation constraints across the campus.

Positioned between the Peter Howson and Smorgon Family Wings, the new structure connects the buildings across six levels, dramatically improving accessibility, wayfinding and operational efficiency.

The infill accommodates operating theatres, consulting rooms, pharmacies, PC2 laboratories, audiometric booths, library facilities and the auditorium — consolidating key clinical and support functions within a cohesive and integrated footprint.

Managing Complexity: Industry-Leading Hazardous Materials Protocols

Early investigations identified extensive latent asbestos, culminating in one of Victoria’s largest live-hospital asbestos remediation programs.

The project team implemented a world-class hazardous materials framework, including:

• A two-stage demolition methodology
• A traffic-light permit-to-work system
• Continuous occupational hygienist oversight
• Comprehensive hazardous materials auditing and sampling

These protocols were recognised by WorkSafe Victoria as industry-leading and established new benchmarks in live-environment safety management.

Additional technical challenges included vibration mitigation measures to protect ultra-sensitive theatre equipment from external tram movement, as well as thorough investigation and isolation of live services prior to modification or removal.

Leadership and Longevity: A Decade of Commitment

The success of this 10-year program was underpinned by strong leadership and enduring collaboration.

Project Manager Tim Hellyer commenced on RVEEH in 2014 as a Project Coordinator and progressed through the ranks to Project Manager, leading the project through its final and most complex stages.

Reflecting on the journey, Tim notes:

“When you work on a project of this duration, the relationships you build are deeper and more enduring than most construction experiences. That shared commitment creates trust — and trust drives performance.”

For Tim, the most rewarding moments came at handover:

“Seeing hospital staff walk into newly completed spaces and immediately begin using them for patient care is incredibly fulfilling. You witness, in real time, the impact of what you’ve built.”

He attributes the project’s resilience to collaboration:

“Every challenge had a solution – and the best solutions came from open conversation. When you bring the right people together, complex problems become manageable.”

Maintaining momentum over a decade required perspective and team culture:

“On long-term projects, it’s important to celebrate progress. Acknowledging each milestone keeps the team focused on the broader purpose and reminds everyone why the work matters.”

A Culture of Excellence

Throughout delivery, the project team:

• Exceeded Hansen Yuncken’s safety benchmarks
• Implemented industry-leading safety tools and systems
• Undertook externally accredited asbestos awareness training
• Achieved Gold Standard COVID-19 Accreditation
• Strengthened client and stakeholder engagement
• Developed management systems adopted across future projects

The collaborative culture established onsite ensured consistent performance, operational continuity and long-term project certainty.

Delivering Lasting Impact

Completed in 2024, the RVEEH redevelopment:

• Supports over 270,000 patients annually
• Delivered more than 2,500 construction jobs
• Enhanced Victoria’s specialist healthcare capacity
• Established new safety and live-environment construction benchmarks

The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital now stands as a state-of-the-art, integrated clinical facility – delivered safely, collaboratively and with precision over a decade of sustained commitment.

This project demonstrates Hansen Yuncken’s capability to successfully deliver highly complex, multi-staged hospital redevelopments within fully operational environments – reducing delivery risk while safeguarding patient care at every stage.