The Magazine | Australian National Construction Review | SA Ambulance Service Precinct
SA Ambulance Service precinct
Hansen Yuncken delivered the new SA Ambulance Service precinct in Adelaide, featuring a 6,700m² Emergency Operations Centre, State Health Coordination Centre, and 1,500m² ambulance station and garage. Built for operations, the facility supports over 339 staff and 56 paramedics and interns strengthens statewide emergency response and post-disaster coordination.
From the outset, Hansen Yuncken’s approach was strategic and agile, building on the strong foundation laid by the client’s thorough design progression during the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase.
“Because the design was so well advanced, we were able to hit the ground running with early works packages as soon as construction commenced,” explains Senior Project Manager, Liam Brosnan. “In a departure from the client’s usual model of engaging a managing contractor, Hansen Yuncken was contracted under a design and construct model, allowing us to carry the project through to completion while maintaining the design intent and ensuring program certainty.”
The Precinct’s role extends far beyond SA Ambulance Service’s (SAAS) operations. It has been designed with flexibility to temporarily accommodate other critical services, such as police and fire, should their facilities become unavailable.
The building offers full redundancy, back-up power via dual generators, independent systems for communications, and seven levels of communication redundancy, ensuring uninterrupted operations even during catastrophic events.
“This is an Importance Level 4 building,” says Brosnan.
“It can withstand a once-in-500-years earthquake. Everything is backed up, from power to call-switching systems, so that no matter what’s happening in the world outside, the services inside can
keep going.”
Managing the build of such a critical asset demanded meticulous planning and stakeholder collaboration. With more than 80 staff on-site daily, logistics were carefully coordinated to ensure smooth progress without compromising safety or operational continuity for SAAS and its neighbouring bus depot.
Close engagement with SAAS, SA Health, and government stakeholders was vital.
“The client had done a lot of good work upfront during the design phase, and our priority was to maintain those processes rather than undo them,” Liam notes. “SAAS is a very practical client, they know exactly what they want, how to make it efficient, and they understand risk.”
The project’s success is also a credit to the specialist subcontractors engaged, whose high standards matched the mission-critical nature of the build.
“This was achieved with really good teamwork across the board,” says Liam. “Everyone, from SAAS to the subcontractors, pulled together with one mission and one goal, and that’s why we’ve delivered the job as well as we have… This is now a flagship building for Hansen Yuncken, one we’re incredibly proud of.”
For the South Australian community, the new SA Ambulance Service precinct represents a leap forward in emergency health response capability. For Hansen Yuncken, it stands as a showcase of precision project management, stakeholder collaboration, and technical excellence.
“We’ve delivered a project that gives SA Health and SA Ambulance Service a strong platform to provide emergency care, and we’ve done it with the same care and dedication they show the community every day.”
For more information contact Hansen Yuncken, Level 1, 191 Fullarton Road Dulwich SA 5065, phone 08 8229 7300, email adelaide@hansenyuncken.com.au, website www.hansenyuncken.com.au
Factbox
Client: SA Ambulance Service
Main Construction Company: Hansen Yuncken
Architect: Architectus
Structural Engineer: GHD
Photography: James Knowler
Tiled Finishes in High-Use Public Infrastructure Projects
Case StudiesAstral Tiling delivered wet area, screeding, and tiling works for the SA Ambulance Service precinct.
The SA Ambulance Service precinct required durable, high-performance internal finishes across a range of operational and public-facing areas, where functionality, compliance, and aesthetics were equally critical. Astral Tiling’s scope on the SA Ambulance Service precinct formed part of the internal finishes package delivered within a fully operational healthcare infrastructure project in Adelaide.
“Our scope of work included all the tiling to the wet areas in the Emergency Operations Centre and ambulance station, as well as the main entrance, reception, and the EOC building,” explained Arif Haidari of Astral Tiling. “We also completed the screed and waterproofing in all wet areas.”
While architects selected the tiles and finishes, Astral’s role was to deliver installations that met the design intent while withstanding the demands of a 24/7 operational facility. This required close coordination with other trades on a live construction site.
“We had to stop and start each phase of our scope, especially in the reception area,” Arif said. “There was a lot of foot traffic, so we worked night shifts to complete screeding and tiling without disrupting progress.”
The sequencing constraints required ongoing coordination with the broader construction program, particularly around access and interface points. Despite this, the tiling package was delivered in line with program requirements and specification. “It was pretty smooth sailing overall,” said Arif.
Astral Tiling’s scope on the SAAS precinct reflects the broader role of specialist finishing contractors in delivering compliant, durable internal environments within complex healthcare infrastructure.
Within this context, tiling packages contribute not only to architectural finish outcomes but also to long-term operational performance in facilities subject to continuous use and strict hygiene requirements.
The project highlights the importance of installation quality, interface coordination, and program alignment in achieving functional outcomes across emergency services infrastructure.
For more information contact Astral Tiling, phone 0413 139 486, email info@astraltiling.com.au, website www.astraltiling.com.au
High-Performance Mechanical Delivery for Emergency Services Infrastructure
Case StudiesO’Connors delivered full mechanical systems design and installation for the SA Ambulance Service precinct.
Delivering the full design and construct mechanical services package for the new SA Ambulance Service precinct, O’Connors played a central role in supporting one of the state’s most significant emergency infrastructure developments.
Drawing on 26 years of expertise across engineering, construction, and maintenance, the company reinforced its reputation as a leader in mechanical services through the delivery of this complex and high-performance project.
“Our scope included the complete design, coordination, and installation of HVAC systems, chilled and condenser water systems, ducted air distribution, ventilation, and the integration of the Building Management System (BMS),” explained Chintan Mody, Construction Manager. “We also ensured compliance with all fire, smoke, and essential safety measures, including stair pressurisation and smoke spill systems.”
Working alongside Hansen Yuncken and other key trades, O’Connors adopted BIM modelling and off-site prefabrication to overcome challenges such as congested plantrooms and tight access. “Prefabricating duct risers and pipe modules off-site saved time, reduced risks, and minimised site congestion,” Chintan said.
The main building, housing the Emergency Operations Centre, also demanded seismic resilience, rated at IL4, to ensure operational continuity during seismic events. “We designed and installed comprehensive seismic restraints for plant, ductwork, and pipework, requiring close collaboration with structural engineers and specialist suppliers,” Chintan noted.
Reliability was paramount for a 24/7 critical services facility. O’Connors selected a robust, high-efficiency plant designed for continuous operation, while ensuring maintenance access and monitoring through advanced BMS controls. “Our systems allow for rapid response capability, with full commissioning and performance testing against design parameters to guarantee operational reliability from Day One,” Chintan said.
Delivered ahead of schedule, the project highlights O’Connors’ ability to integrate technical excellence with collaborative project delivery. As Chintan concluded, “This project demonstrates our ability to meet ambitious milestones while ensuring safety, resilience, and long-term reliability.”
For more information contact O’Connors, 08 8410 4099, email admin@oconnorservices.com.au, www.oconnorservices.com.au
Integrated Civil, Earthworks and Stormwater Solutions for Critical Infrastructure
Case StudiesRichmond Co delivered coordinated civil, earthworks, piling, and stormwater infrastructure for Adelaide’s ambulance emergency operations centre.
Richmond Co has built a reputation for delivering complex civil construction projects with precision, adaptability, and a strong focus on sustainability. Their contribution to the new SA Ambulance Service precinct in Adelaide showcases the company’s ability to combine technical expertise with collaborative site management on critical infrastructure projects.
The precinct, developed by Hansen Yuncken, represents a major investment in the state’s emergency services infrastructure. For Richmond Co, the project brought together multiple stages of civil delivery, showcasing the breadth of the company’s capability across complex infrastructure works. “Our scope included undertaking the demolition, bulk earthworks, piling pad construction, and later we were awarded the stormwater component” explained Emmanuel Mouhalos, General Manager.
Richmond Co’s role began with early site preparation. Their demolition and earthworks teams cleared the way for new structures while constructing piling pads to support the ambitious design. Later in the program, they returned to deliver the stormwater package. “It took four days to crane the stormwater drains into place, with a lot of preparation required to enable sole access for us on site,” Emmanuel said. Careful planning and daily meetings ensured works were delivered safely and efficiently.
Working on a city-fringe site often comes with logistical challenges, but Richmond Co adapted with planning and communication. “The site was quite big and we were the first ones in, so we had the site to ourselves,” Emmanuel explained. “When we came back for the stormwater component, we had to manage other trades on site and exclusion zones based on daily meetings with Hansen Yuncken. A lot of planning and programming went into mitigating any issues with deliveries and trucks.”
Environmental responsibility remains central to Richmond Co’s operations. “We were able to substitute some material on site, such as recycled PM2 rubble as the base,” Emmanuel said. The team also implemented filtration systems at the tops of pits to ensure runoff was managed responsibly and no stormwater was contaminated.”
Unexpected challenges arose during stormwater excavation. “We did find some services in the stormwater excavation,” Emmanuel recalled. “We diverted them around our work area, this enabled us to stay on program” The team’s ability to adapt quickly and reroute services without disruption highlighted their problem-solving skills and site experience.
Richmond Co worked hand-in-hand with Hansen Yuncken and other contractors to align civil works with the broader construction program.
“We had daily meetings at 1pm to discuss the next day’s activities to ensure contractors and works lined up,” Emmanuel explained. “There was also quite an in-depth preparation in the lead up to the project in terms of methodologies and timelines.”
This consistent communication created a streamlined process that reduced delays, avoided clashes, and reinforced a culture of safety and accountability across the site.
For Richmond Co, the project was more than just another civil works package, it was an opportunity to contribute to a critical piece of public infrastructure while highlighting the teams strengths:
As Adelaide continues to grow, Richmond Co’s role in shaping the built environment underscores its reputation as a trusted partner in civil construction, capable of delivering results that are both technically precise and community-focused.
For more information contact Richmond Co, 2 Inglis Circuit, Gillman SA 5013, phone 08 8359 1946, website www.richmondco.au
Designing resilient infrastructure for continuous emergency operations
Case StudiesWesco Anixter delivered seismic-compliant raised flooring and network infrastructure for the South Australian Ambulance Headquarters.
When the SA Ambulance Service precinct was developed as a mission-critical facility, it required infrastructure capable of supporting resilience, safety and continuous uptime. Wesco Anixter was engaged to deliver integrated solutions aligned with these operational requirements.
At the core of the project was a Bergvik ISO Floor raised- access system designed to meet seismic demands while supporting long-term flexibility. “The system is built with steel pedestals, bearers and joists, and allows wider spans than conventional raised floors,” said Tim Martin, Senior Vice President and GM, Wesco Anixter.. “This provides space to distribute cabling, piping and other essential services beneath the floor, while maintaining structural stability during seismic activity.”
This was critical as the facility was designed to meet Building Importance Level 4 requirements, the highest classification for essential infrastructure. The raised floor supports both static equipment loads and dynamic loads during seismic events, helping ensure that critical systems remain operational.
Wesco Anixter also delivered the communications infrastructure. “We deployed a SYSTIMAX Category 6A UTP solution using the VisiPATCH 360 system in a cross-connect configuration,” Tim said. This supports the management of eight separate networks within constrained telecommunications spaces, improving space utilisation and system reliability. Seismically rated Rittal enclosures were also installed to protect communications systems.
Collaboration was critical. Wesco Anixter worked closely with the Ambulance Service, consultants and contractors to align the solution with Australian standards and operational requirements. Intelligent monitoring through CommScope’s imVision provides visibility of network infrastructure, supporting secure access and faster identification of faults.
By integrating raised-access flooring, structured cabling and intelligent infrastructure management, Wesco Anixter delivered a scalable platform that supports reliable performance and continuous service delivery, helping the facility maintain critical operations in both day-to-day and emergency conditions.
For more information contact Wesco Anixter, phone 1300 319 499, website www.wesco.com/australia