The School of Medicine’s Rural Clinical School building in Toowoomba has won the Regional Commendation at the 2010 Darling Downs Regional Architecture Awards.
The award winning building was designed by Arkhefield architects and was opened in July 2008 at a cost of $4.2 million.
The aspiration of the building was to offer an alternative to the traditional ‘blood and bandage’ clinical interiors associated with medical training facilities.
The use of concrete walls, copper soffits, timber feature doors and large expanses of glass brought the building in line with the expectations of a contemporary institutional building.
“In turn this delivered a warm, tactile and inspirational internal volume within which to learn,” Mr Andrew Gutteridge from Arkhefield architects explained.
The design is enhanced through environmentally sustainable aspects such as self-supporting glass walls, solar energy for winter heating and a smart air-conditioning system to independently control different sections of the facility.
The building boosts a state-of-the-art teaching and learning space for up to 80 students, a dedicated Clinical Skills Laboratory, advanced audiovisual equipment, 24-hour computer lab and a Lectopia education recording system.
The building is automatically entered into the Australian Institute of Architects State Awards, which will be held in June.
“We feel that the building has been a great success, and received much attention from the media and general public alike, so we hope that it will do well!” Mr Andrew Gutteridge said.
Media: School of Medicine, Brian Mallon 040 362 1109
