Tōtara Haumaru, North Shore Hospital

Tōtara Haumaru

New Zealand’s newest hospital and the largest development at North Shore Hospital in 50 years

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Providing a welcoming environment for patients and whānau

Tōtara Haumaru (The Sheltering Tōtara) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s newest hospital facility and the largest development at North Shore Hospital in 50 years. This future-focused, 19,600sqm+ regional healthcare hub completed for Health New Zealand anticipates the needs of the country’s fast-growing and ageing northern population. The four-storey hospital building, featuring patient and whānau-centred design, supports modern models of care and is designed to enhance the experience of patients and visitors.

Built in three-and-a-half years, this major infrastructure development is designed to advance the future capacity and resilience of health services in the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Te Tai Tokerau Northland regions and will also support the treatment of patients from further afield.

Connecting to the existing 40-bed Elective Surgery Centre, the facility incorporates state-of-the-art equipment and technology and includes an additional eight operating theatres, four endoscopy procedure rooms and five 30-bed inpatient wards, totalling an additional 150 inpatient beds. Whānau rooms that enable families to be close to loved ones requiring medical care are included. Supported by the Well Foundation and community, the building also features New Zealand’s first large-scale indoor healing garden, which provides a place of calm for patients, whānau and staff.

Tōtara Haumaru provides increased availability of negative pressure rooms on the North Shore Hospital campus, which will help with managing and minimising the impact of infectious disease, particularly respiratory illnesses. The building is also designed for IL4 disaster recovery to function without interruption following a major event.

The Sheltering Tōtara

The design of Tōtara Haumaru counteracts the clinical look and feel traditionally associated with healthcare environments. Overlooked by wards and treatment spaces, the one-of-a-kind 450sqm indoor healing garden also designed by Jasmax, in collaboration with Haumi and Outside In, draws on biophilic design principles through inclusion of greenery and natural light. Similarly, signage, colour selection and timber finishes in non-clinical spaces aim to reflect the place-based design narrative, reduce stress, support wellbeing, enhance the morale of staff and provide an intuitive means of orientation within the facility.

Given by Dame Rangimārie Naida Glavish (Ngāti Whātua), the building’s name honours a tōtara tree that stood on the site of the new hospital. Tōtara Haumaru reflects our inherent connection to nature and the Māori perspective where trees are Tāne (the deity of the forest), forming connection between the earth and sky and symbolising life, wellbeing and potential.

Timber retrieved from this tōtara has been carved into a pou incorporated within the main reception lobby. Timber has also been used in non-clinical spaces, such as the arrival area, main entrance, atrium, waiting areas and staff workspaces infusing these areas with warmth and the calming presence of nature.

Manu (birds) from the realm of Tāne have inspired the interior design and wayfinding concepts. Feather motifs inspired by the plumage of native bird species are inscribed into timber panelling and colours provide a coding system identifying each of the four floor levels.

The value of a trusted team

Tōtara Haumaru was designed through the unprecedented pressure of a global pandemic, the construction market experiencing high inflation and supply chain issues, and the Auckland region was impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle – a one-in-200-year event. Both the design and delivery of this facility required meticulous collaboration, technical capability, and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. To alleviate stress on clinical advisors during lockdowns, Jasmax’s health planning teams carefully guided users through the design at every step of the way to arrive at fit-for-purpose layouts that balance Australian Health Facility Guidelines (AHFG) alongside specific clinical requirements. The design was delivered sequentially allowing early procurement of trades, reducing the risk of cost overruns due to escalation.

Working alongside Te Whatu Ora toward a unified goal, the project management team, including Precon Project Management, RLB Rider Levett Bucknall, Hawkins, Jasmax, Beca and Aurecon, ensured efficient decision-making resulting in successful completion, highlighting strong leadership and a dedication to delivering a facility that will attract staff and improve the patient experience for years to come.