The new children’s hospital building at Randwick will integrate vibrant environmental graphics that represent the hospital’s unique location and proud cultural heritage.

Led by Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) and Frost Collective, the wayfinding artwork created for the 12-storey building has been inspired by consultation with staff, consumers and Bidjigal people.

Every floor will feature a large-scale environmental graphic in main entrances and thoroughfares to aid navigation and provide moments of escapism for patients and families.

"Each environment spans several levels as you move up through the hospital. This has inspired the facade, interior and landscape designs and now the environmental graphics approach,” said BLP Interior Design Lead Rebecca Yeo.

The environmental graphics incorporate different storylines representative of the area’s wetlands, dunes or sea cliffs, and the flora and fauna native to each setting.

The floors showcase a different Australian animal, including a Brushtail Possum, Sydney Basin Turtle, Tawny Frogmouth and Red Shore Crab, and weave in the animal’s unique personalities as they move through their native environment.

"The artwork is designed to engage with children and families of all ages and backgrounds, whilst telling the colourful and diverse story of this special location,” said Frost Collective creative director Sarah Estens.

“Within the large-scale illustrations, you will predominately find the nominated level animal going about their day: seeing, smelling, tasting things, visiting places they like and live,” Ms Estens added.

The designers engaged with families with lived experience and patients at the Hospital School to inform the narratives of the animals across each floor.

The student and family input led the design team to place the animals in more surprising locations, draw more diverse facial expressions and add textured elements to the illustrations.

"There are many moments of discovery, such as recognising a local plant like a Grevilia or Tawny Frogmouth hidden in a Stringy Bark Tree, which at first glance was not apparent,” said Ms Estens.

“The design and project team have taken considerable time to ensure these graphic designs meet a range of needs for staff, visitors and children who will delight in seeing them.”

The exciting designs will be on show when the Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre building is expected to be completed in late 2025.