project
Royal Darwin Hospital - Modular Ward
| Client | Northern Territory Government |
| Location | Darwin , NT |
| Completion Year | 2025 |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Project Manager |
Henry Power
Director & Senior Architect
The Royal Darwin Hospital Modular Ward Expansion demonstrates how innovative modular construction can rapidly increase healthcare capacity while minimising disruption to operational hospital environments. Bennett Architecture was engaged to masterplan and design a new 32-bed ward to meet growing inpatient demand through an efficient off-site construction approach. The facility includes negative-pressure isolation rooms, bariatric accommodation, multi-bed and single-patient rooms, with renal treatment capability incorporated throughout. Supporting clinical, staff and operational spaces were integrated to contemporary healthcare standards and guidelines. The project delivers flexible, future-ready infrastructure that enhances patient care, improves operational efficiency, and expands hospital capacity with minimal impact on existing services.
Key objectives
Expansion of inpatient capacity through innovative modular construction.
Delivery of specialised healthcare spaces including isolation and bariatric rooms.
Integration of renal treatment capability at every patient bed space.
Minimisation of disruption to hospital operations during construction.
Creation of a flexible, future-ready ward supporting high-quality patient care.
Project Story
A major expansion at Royal Darwin Hospital demonstrates how modular construction can accelerate project delivery, minimise disruption, and enhance patient care while responding to increasing demand for healthcare services. Bennett Architecture was engaged to masterplan and design a new 32-bed modular ward as part of a significant infrastructure initiative aimed at expanding inpatient capacity without impacting the hospital’s day-to-day operations. By adopting an off-site modular construction methodology, the project significantly reduced on-site construction time, limiting disruption to patients, staff, and surrounding clinical services.
The ward was designed to accommodate a broad range of clinical requirements and includes four negative-pressure isolation rooms, a bariatric single room, four four-bed rooms, four two-bed rooms, and three additional single bedrooms. One of the isolation rooms incorporates a bariatric-compliant ensuite and patient hoisting provisions, while every patient room was designed with renal treatment capability, ensuring the necessary infrastructure is available to support dialysis and specialist care at each bed space.
In addition to increasing bed capacity, the project provides the full complement of clinical, staff, and support facilities expected within a contemporary healthcare environment, including offices, team workspaces, utility rooms, and storage areas. The design was developed in accordance with the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines and responds to the Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) Minimum Design Standards, Royal Darwin Hospital engineering requirements, and relevant healthcare design guidelines.
The completed facility delivers a flexible and future-ready healthcare environment that not only expands hospital capacity but also supports high-quality patient care, staff efficiency, and operational performance. The project demonstrates the value of modular construction in delivering critical health infrastructure quickly, efficiently, and with substantially less disruption to ongoing hospital services.
