Project overview

The School of Pharmacy involves the extensive refurbishment of an existing two-level annex within the McClymont Building, a 1950’s designed and built Laboratory facility within the Armidale Campus of the University of New England. The project required the transformation of the annex into a contemporary teaching facility that would accommodate the needs of the School of Pharmacy now and into the future. The School of Pharmacy includes complex lab spaces in addition to flexible teaching and training areas capable of providing ‘real life’ situations reflective of the typical role undertaken by a pharmacist in private practice.

The consultation process allowed a collaborative relationship to develop, promoting and encouraging a sense of ownership in the users that enabled the design to integrate the learning methodologies being applied whilst recognising the limitations associated with an existing building. Critical to the design was the Universities ambition of seeking a Green Star rating. The project is seeking a four star As Built rating that required key decisions to be adopted from the outset. The facade of the McClymont Building was to dramatically change to clearly define the new works from the existing, and present a new identity to both the school and building generally. A number of ESD initiatives including ventilated sun pipes, green walls and roof, water harvesting, and use of natural ventilation in lieu of air-conditioned spaces have been utilised. The subsequent completed refurbishment has significantly improved the space available on Campus and presented a contemporary teaching environment that offers a value for money outcome essential for regional Universities where student numbers and funding limit the opportunities available.