Eldercare Goodwood, a state-of-the-art aged care facility in Adelaide, has become the first in Australia to receive a Six Star Green Star Design Review rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.
The $40 million, 100-bed residence welcomed its first residents today, marking a significant milestone in sustainable aged care design.
Designed by Brown Falconer and constructed by Sarah Construction, the facility boasts an impressive array of environmental features.
These include a 100KW solar PV system powering an all-electric building, stormwater collection and reuse for garden irrigation, 150,000L rainwater collection, LED lighting with motion sensors, and design elements such as double-glazed windows and natural ventilation.
The facility is built across three levels, including a basement, and adopts the small-household model of aged care as recommended by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The ground and first floors comprise four wings of 25 residential suites, clustered into groups of six to seven for more personalised care.
Each residential wing functions as its own neighbourhood, featuring a large servery and central living and dining areas, along with reading nooks and light-filled activity spaces for social connection.
The spacious 27 sqm residential suites are the largest offered across all Eldercare sites.
The suites are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including voice-assist systems, smart TVs with family-connect capabilities, 4D-radar technology for fall detection and alert notifications, and inbuilt ceiling-mounted electronic track and hoist systems.
Eldercare Chief Executive Jane Pickering described Eldercare Goodwood as “the new standard in aged care”, designed to meet the growing demand for modern, high-quality aged care facilities.
“Our innovative, sustainable design has been built around a model of care that supports the health and wellbeing of a rapidly ageing cohort who expect to age well, remain connected to community and are environmentally aware,” Pickering said.
Brown Falconer Managing Director Mario Dreosti emphasised the focus on enhancing residents’ quality of life through design.
“Our design really focussed on enhancing residents’ quality of life every day, from using the small house model, providing different levels of privacy, to creating spacious gardens and light-filled communal areas,” he said.
The project has significantly involved South Australian businesses, including Stan Bond, Peppertree Furniture, and First Nations artist Linda Turner, with the remainder being almost entirely Australian companies.
Eldercare Goodwood is also expected to achieve platinum WELL accreditation and is on track to receive a Six Star Green Star Design and As Built rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, further cementing its position as a leader in sustainable aged care design.
