10 Year Building Anniversary
Celebrating 10 years in the Lowy Packer Building
5 September 2018
When Crown Princess Mary of Denmark opened the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute building a decade ago, she predicted it would be home to the “brightest and best minds in the country and the world”.
![Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Building Exterior Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Building Exterior](https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=72&q=60&w=120 120w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=143&q=60&w=240 240w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=215&q=60&w=360 360w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=287&q=60&w=480 480w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=358&q=60&w=600 600w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=430&q=60&w=720 720w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=501&q=60&w=840 840w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=573&q=60&w=960 960w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=645&q=60&w=1080 1080w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=716&q=60&w=1200 1200w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=788&q=60&w=1320 1320w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=860&q=60&w=1440 1440w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=931&q=60&w=1560 1560w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1003&q=60&w=1680 1680w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1075&q=60&w=1800 1800w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1146&q=60&w=1920 1920w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Victor-Chang-Building-Exterior.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1182&q=60&w=1980 1980w)
Her foresight and the 10th Birthday of the Lowy Packer building have been celebrated with balloons and bubbles for staff from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, which shares the facility.
Before the glasses were raised, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Executive Director Professor Bob Graham remembered the moment philanthropist and founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies, Chuck Feeney, agreed to donate $20 million for construction of the research centre.
“I was thanking him for his time, and had just turned to walk away when he said: ‘Oh, by the way, you can have the $20 million’,” Professor Graham said.
“That $20 million from Chuck Feeney also allowed us to install state-of-the-art equipment and facilities straight away.”
“It’s a beautiful building. We are lucky to have it.”
Representing St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Chief Operating Officer Phil Cunningham said collaboration between the two organisations was to be commended.
“This building extends beyond just four walls, it’s created a sense of unity and partnership between our two organisations,” explained Mr Cunningham.
A decade ago when Crown Princess Mary spoke at the official opening, she referred to her “own personal experience of the devastating effects of heart disease”. Her mother died from the condition in 1997. “Buildings like this don’t just happen. They take a great deal of work from many people over many years,” Crown Princess Mary said.
“In this regard, the leadership of the Board, not only of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, but also St Vincent’s Hospital and their precinct partner the Garvan Institute, deserve much praise and congratulations.”
The gala opening ceremony in 2008 was also attended by Mrs Ann Chang, former NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, as well as former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, at that time, Federal Member for Wentworth.
![Celebrating 10 years in the Lowy Packer Building Celebrating 10 years in the Lowy Packer Building](https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=80&q=60&w=120 120w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=160&q=60&w=240 240w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=240&q=60&w=360 360w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=320&q=60&w=480 480w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=400&q=60&w=600 600w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=480&q=60&w=720 720w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=560&q=60&w=840 840w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=640&q=60&w=960 960w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=720&q=60&w=1080 1080w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=800&q=60&w=1200 1200w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=880&q=60&w=1320 1320w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=960&q=60&w=1440 1440w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=1040&q=60&w=1560 1560w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=1120&q=60&w=1680 1680w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=1200&q=60&w=1800 1800w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=1280&q=60&w=1920 1920w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/IMG_4047resize.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5177&fp-y=0.6197&h=1320&q=60&w=1980 1980w)
When the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute was established in 1994, it started with just two scientists.
Today there are 300 staff and scientists working in 24 laboratories making world-class discoveries in heart research.
“Dr Chang was an original thinker and saw the need for research and the development of heart assist devices and not least, he is known for his legendary caring for his patients and their families,” Crown Princess Mary added.
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For all media enquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Julia Timms
Head, Media & Communications
j.timms@victorchang.edu.au
0457 517 355
Acknowledgement of Country
The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.