Basil Hetzel Building
The future of health
The Basil Hetzel Building is the new high tech home for staff and
students of the Division of Health Sciences and adds a dynamic new focus
to Adelaide’s health education precinct.
Cox Grieve Gillett Architects have designed an impressive building. With its clear facade creating a stunning new entry point to the City East campus, the Basil Hetzel Building comprises five levels of teaching and research space, state-of-the-art laboratories, a 338-seat Mutual Community lecture theatre and a large outdoor plaza that provides a central area for public events.
The building provides staff and students with unprecedented access to facilities including some 2,000 square metres of multipurpose biomechanical, pharmaceutical and microbiological laboratory space. Sophisticated postgraduate facilities include a PC3 laboratory that allows researchers to investigate pathogens in an airtight space with absolute safety.
A Chemplus model pharmacy has also been added to help students gain experience needed to carry out their vital role.
The Hon Dr Basil Hetzel AC
Born
in London in 1922, Dr Hetzel has spent most of his life in Adelaide, but
his vision and influence stretch far beyond state and national
boundaries. In the 1960s, he led research in Papua New Guinea that
identified the link between iodine deficiency and significant brain
damage in unborn children. The global prevention of this problem became
his major life work and, as a result, Dr Hetzel has helped to
dramatically improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
Dr Hetzel was Reader and Professor of Medicine at the University of Adelaide from 1956 to 1968, Foundation Professor of Social and Preventative Medicine at Monash University from 1968 to 1975, Chief of the CSIRO Division of Human Nutrition from 1975 to 1985, and Lieutenant Governor of South Australia from 1992 to 2000. He has received numerous awards for his achievements and contributions to global public health.
Proudly, Dr Hetzel was also Chancellor of the University of South Australia from 1992 to 1998, and is acknowledged as one of Australia’s National Living Treasures.