The old Auckland Hospital is now called the Support Building. 

During the initial planning for The Building Programme, Auckland Hospital was identified as an existing building with potential usage within the Building Programme. This was in marked contrast to some of the other Auckland District Health Board facilities, which are scheduled for refurbishment or demolition. 

The core function of the Support Building will be support services for the new hospital. Plans for the Support Building have a requirement to utilise existing spaces within the building, for current and new uses. Therefore, refurbishment will be mostly moderate upgrades with partition and ceiling removals, leading to a full refit of some spaces.

The Support Building is an integral part of the overall planning for Grafton and will be linked to the new hospital, by the Atrium at level 5 (currently ground floor of Support Building ).  

Both clinical and non-clinical services will be located within the Support Building. Here is a breakdown of the services:

• Departmental Offices associated with clinical services in the Auckland City Hospital, Main Building

• Clinical activities which support inpatient services in the new hospital, for example, neurophysiology, endoscopy and respiratory

• Hotel services which comprise, kitchens, loading docks, linen and uniform rooms

• Clinical Support activities for example, pharmacy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy

• Clinical Base offices for support services

• Training, teaching and conference facilities

• Corporate and administration activities

• Research and teaching space for the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

• Transit lounge 

• Outpatient services not located at the Greenlane Clinical Centre

ADHB contracted Jasmax, one of New Zealand’s top architectural firms, to design the new Auckland City Hospital. Jasmax worked with the Australian firm McConnel Smith and Johnson (MSJ), to bring an unique expertise in hospital design. Fletcher Construction was awarded the contract to build the new Auckland City Hospital.

JASMAX is an award-winning firm with a proven track record in major public buildings, hotels, tertiary facilities and other significant projects. Its recent projects include: the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand, Wellington; the Auckland Town Hall Refurbishment; The AIT Hotel and Restaurant Studies Building, Auckland; the Heritage Auckland Hotel; the Adidas UniSports Science and Medical Centre, Auckland and the North Stand Redevelopment, Eden Park. JASMAX has over 60 staff and 35 years’ experience in architectural and interior design practice.

McConnel Smith & Johnson’s extensive health experience has been gained in the conduct of major hospital projects in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia with recent projects including the A$250m Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, the A$250m Kandang Kerbau (Women’s and Children’s) Hospital in Singapore, both joint ventures, and the A$66m redevelopment of the Blacktown/Mt Druitt Hospitals in Sydney. MSJ’s work in the health sector and in the areas of public building, education, housing and urban design has been acknowledged with numerous design awards.

January 2003 - Atrium View from Park Rd	February 2003 - Adult and Children's Emergency Dept Entrances
March 2003  - Auckland City Hospital	April 2003 - Auckland City Hospital
May 2003 - Auckland City Hospital	August 2003 - view from Park Road
August 2003	August 2003 - view from Starship Front Entrance back upto the new building
August 2003 - view of Children's & Adults Emergency Dept entrance	Emergency Department Ambulance bays
January 2002	January 2002 - view from Grafton Rd
January 2002	February 2002 - view from Park Rd
March 2002 - view from Grafton Rd	April 2002 - view from Park Rd
May 2002 - view from Starship	June 2002 - view from Grafton Road
July 2002 - view from Auckland Hospital, Emergency Dept.	August 2002 - view from Park Rd
September 2002	October 2002
November 2002	December 2002

 

Before construction of the new Auckland City Hospital began, the architects, and the ADHB decided that ward desing was so crucial, there would be benefit in building a mock-up of a generic ward.

The idea was that staff and user groups could visit this life like mock-up and identify any design issues.  To this end a mock-up of the generic ward plan was built in a ware-house in Glenn Innis.

The mock-up was fitted out to look as much as possible like a generic ward as it would look when built, this meant that staff and designers could check measurements, fittings, furniture, equipment and colour schemes before fitting out the building.  This was to ensure that the very best design and look would be the end result.  After almost a thousand visits to the mock-up, a number of key changes to ward design were made.

Four bed room, separate shower and toilet at entrance to room. (Left of picture)	Four bed room, looking toward corridor.
Single bed room with ensuite, looking toward Nurse's station.	Nurse's station looking toward single bed room.
Ward clerk station, visible from ward entrance.

Auckland's new acute adult hospital on the Auckland District Health Board's Grafton road site opened in October 2003. 

It brings together the services of Auckland, Green Lane and National Women's Hospitals into one building, and links with Starship Children's Health. This represents a fundamental reorganisation of the Auckland District Health Board's staff and services.

Older People’s Health wards were the first patients moved into the new Auckland City Hospital.	Here the hon. Annette King welcomes the first patients and presents them with certificates to commemorate the day.
Crown and The Auckland District Health Board’s staff load up the trolleys.	Patients prepare to leave the old Auckland Hospital.
The Journey along the atrium link from old Auckland Hospital into the new Auckland City Hospital.	The Journey along the atrium.
Reception area, wards 61 and 63, receiving the first patients.	The first patient into the wards 61 and 63.

Sign outside the new Auckland City Hospital.	The first patients into Auckland City Hospital, an occasion which was celebrated on Level 3 of the New Hospital.
The Minister of Health, the Hon. Annette King welcomes Greenlane Hospital staff into their new facilities at Auckland City Hospital.	The Hon. Annette King is thanked for visiting the Greenlane Hospital staff on their move into the new Auckland City Hospital.
The Transition Lounge in Auckland City Hospital, where patients can wait to be taken home after their time in Hospital.	Auckland City Hospital Visitors Parking, Carpark A.
The Muffin Break Cafe' in Auckland City Hospital.	The Planet Expresso Coffee shop in Auckland City Hospital.
The Pharmacy in Auckland City Hospital.	The Florist in Auckland City Hospital.