The ANSTO Nuclear Medicine (ANM) project encompasses the delivery of a world class nuclear medicine production facility located at ANSTO’s Lucas Heights campus in Sydney. The primary function of this facility revolves around the pharmaceutical production of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99). Mo-99, which decays to Technitium-99, is used in around 80 percent of diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures worldwide for the diagnosis and treatment of heart, lung and muscular skeletal conditions, as well as a variety of cancers.
Program
Nuclear Pharmaceutical Production
Floor Area
4,250 sq. m
Site Location
ANSTO, Lucas Heights Campus, NSW
The client brief required the design team to address two unique goals. Firstly the project had to accommodate the pragmatic requirements of a nuclear facility in the areas of the production processes, physical security requirements and environmental protection systems. Secondly, the client required that the facility was ‘connected’ to the surrounding campus and reactor zone buildings.
The client brief required the design team to address two unique goals. Firstly the project had to accommodate the pragmatic requirements of a nuclear facility in the areas of the production processes, physical security requirements and environmental protection systems. Secondly, the client required that the facility was ‘connected’ to the surrounding campus and reactor zone buildings.
The project has significance on the world stage as it is one of the only export-scale Mo-99 production processes to exclusively use proliferation-proof low enriched uranium, contributing to global non-proliferation and nuclear security goals.
The project takes Australia from producing primarily domestic supplies of Mo-99, to being capable of delivering up to 25 per cent of the global needs for the commonly used nuclear medicine.
While asserting its functional brief, the building invites interaction via a welcoming entry, well defined public domain, use of expressive natural materials and integrated landscaping.
