Building Design
The importance of the adjacent Mayne Medical School Building, which is heritage listed, was a major driver in the design of the Oral Health Centre (OHC). This sympathetic approach has resulted in approval for the development from the Queensland Heritage Council.
The Mayne Medical School building is the centerpiece of UQ's newly designated Herston Campus and has been at the heart of medical education in Queensland for many years. The classically designed "Med School" is a significant landmark, so it was important that view lines to the building were preserved. Consequently, the OHC will be located to one side of the Mayne Medical School and will be lower in height than its distinctive dome and parapet.
The project involves removing a 1970s addition to the Medical School (known as The Annexe) which will restore the heritage-listing building to its original state. The OHC design includes a low section immediately adjacent to the Medical School so the historic building commands its own space. The OHC's footprint, along the length of Bramston Terrace, also preserves most of the parkland area in front of the medical school.
Parkland
The building design aims to complement its parkland setting by enriching enjoyment of the green space through views from the building and by providing new amenities. These include a high quality café, views and accessways that encourage flow to the park and the medical school.
The elegant, open design offers views to the medical school and parkland from many vantage points. The building has also been designed to encourage interactive flow between the OHC, medical school and hospital.
The OHC is intended to be a benchmark building for The University. The design aims to make a strong statement, while complementing the Medical School by setting a courtyard of quality visual and interactive space. The project's lead architects are Cox Rayner, with support for heritage aspects from Riddel Architects, and for clinical facility design from Hames Sharley. The architects have worked closely with UQ dentistry staff to generate and test new design concepts and to evolve further ideas gained from an extensive review of international best practice in dental facility design.
Key Design Elements
- 7 levels
- arranged in 3 vertical blocks separated by naturally ventilated transparent 'circulation cores'
- a footprint of 4500 square metres
- numerous verandahs for natural ventilation
- cutting edge technologies and design.