Australian Red Cross Blood Donor Centre

When the Red Cross Blood Service commissioned Swanbury Penglase to design a new donor centre, it was in the context of a drive to attract new donors and make the process of donating blood convenient and as much as possible a pleasurable experience.

The new centre was to be the biggest in Australia and located in the heart of the CBD accessed from the busy Regent Arcade running between Rundle Mall and Grenfell Street.

Blood Donor Centres are required to be licensed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration who have established a range of strict compliance requirements related particularly to atmospheric temperature and infection control. The centres are subject to stringent audits and commissioning processes which occur over a period of up to 3 months before donors can use the centre.

A range of stakeholders within the Australian Red Cross Blood Services were engaged to provide detailed input to and audit of the concept design and detailed documentation before work on site commenced.
An abstract representation of blood circulation provided the basis for planning and conceptual design ideas while a recurring theme of positive and negative components, influenced by positive and negative blood types, is evident throughout the fitout.

Colour and finishes were selected to create a warm and inviting environment and challenge aesthetic expectations for clinical environments.