Pharmacy

Project Objectives

We understand that the primary project objectives of UNE in their facilities strategy are:

• To provide inspirational and innovative facilities in keeping with the University's Values & Visions of Best Practice;
• To minimise the risk of asbestos exposure to staff and students;
• To attain high standards in Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) for the benefit of the micro and greater environment and for life-cycle fiscal reasons; and
• To provide equitable and fully inclusive educational environments for Disabled Users.

The School of Science and Technology: Pharmacy through the refurbishment of the McClymont Building offers the Department the opportunity to put on display the key functional elements

undertaken during the study of Pharmacy that will offer other students a unique insight into the process of compounding and dispensing medications. Key to the success of the project will be the development of a strong project vision that not only captures the primary UNE project objectives but also the specific objectives to be developed in consultation with the PUG. The Design Team understand these objectives to include the following:

• Achieve a functional, vibrant and distinct fitout and extension by December 2011;
• Establish a contemporary School of Pharmacy incorporating the latest advancements in Pharmaceutical education;
• Provide a 'value for money' facility;
• Provide a distinct and unique identity for the School of Pharmacy separate to that of the adjoining School of Science;

Vision

To inspire the students and staff and engender a new pride in place sufficient to stimulate quality teaching and learning. To create a sustainable, beyond Iconic, contemporary and architecturally attractive building. UNE has expressed a desire for this project to be distinct from the remaining part of the McClymont Building having more significance than the existing structures; and this reflects the Green Building Council of Australia's Green Star eligibility criteria. UNE sees this project as an opportunity to develop something richly meaningful and useful for the Campus and its inhabitants. The project's success has been described as being a building able to be seen to be full of people enjoying the functions that the facility offers – long into the future. A building that, within this same time scale, will be able to be recognised as a quality, community place.

In order to be more articulate about these vague notions, the following publication is noted: Alexander, Christopher. A Pattern Language. Oxford, London, 1980. Alexander's book follows this theme sensitively by way of examples on a diverse range of scales. Its' biblical quality intimidates but it is an important and very useful publication that can be used in the same way as the traditional pattern books that allowed images to be transcribed. Alexander is seeking to transcribe things much more significant and much more subtle – sensuous things that UNE has identified as being important for this project.

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Brief

Architectural Strategies

1 Accessibility

• For all ages
• Visitor set-down – taxi/private car/disabled persons
• Deliveries
• Short & Long-term visitor arrival sequences
• Vertical access > lift/stairs/ramps
• The existing ramps in the precinct allow for movement through the spaces and into the buildings but demand significant detours or effort.

2 Clarity/Legibility

• Wayfinding / Mind-mapping
• Removal of physical & visual barriers
• Visual clues to assist legibility-strong sight lines, intuitive wayfinding, visual connection to facilities
• Transparency – transparent floor plate unifying levels and defining entry.
• Vertical links – grand stair – providing circulation as well as social venue
• Terrain will mimic natural track through, natural features, wayfinding cues
• A continuity of materials throughout the route will reinforce wayfinding and status of the pathways.
• Enhanced sense of direction
• Control views
• Central axis provides a static layer, simple, formal, structured, presence and directionality
• Scale
• Gathering areas
• There are future opportunities for UNE to unify the mixed assembly of existing buildings.

The importance of wayfinding for this complex cannot be overemphasised. Signs provide the primary and most intimate introduction to a place. The eye seeks guidance in these images that must engage interest and intrigue as well as inform. But wayfinding is more than signage. It involves a subtle sense of understanding the shaping of the reading of place and space. It is a core matter for this multifunction complex that seeks to embody many in the one. The challenge is to overcome all possible ambiguities in this collage of uses to create an excitement and fascination that can become part of the enjoyment of being there.

3 Safety

• Openness
• Egress routes / sign-posting
• Ambient lighting
• Visual access and clear sight lines

4 Amenity

• Communal lounge areas with access to outdoor areas – dual access – Outdoor + Foyer
• Kitchen and ablution amenities serving common areas – dual access – Outdoor + Foyer
• Drinking fountains
• Quiet Spaces & Active Noisy Spaces separated
• Built-in seating

5 Flexibility

• Active & Passive Spaces
• Summer & Winter Spaces
• Static & Dynamic Spaces
• Variety of scales of spaces
• Flexible spaces, freedom, individual

6 Sustainability

In the last few years, the green building industry has significantly matured due to the increased awareness of the environmental impact of the construction and ongoing costs of running buildings. As UNE has a commitment to sustainability, there is a responsibility of the University to invest in long term solutions on behalf of the public. In regards to development and building, the University's plan provides direction to provide high quality design outcomes by focusing on:

Promoting and applying high quality, 'best practice' building standards and sustainability principles including temperate and whole of life cycle design considerations to buildings and other development.

The design of the Pharmacy Building will therefore aim to adopt national environmental and energy assessment methods, such as the Green Building Council of Australia's Green Star technical guidelines for Education Buildings, and NABERS, the national building environmental rating scheme (when an Education tool is available), in view to complying with the minimum 4-Star, 'Best Practice'. Green buildings are known to produce lower operating costs, a high return on investment, greater tenant attraction, enhanced marketability, productivity benefits, a healthier place to visit/work, demonstration of corporate social responsibility, future proofed assets and a competitive advantage.

Some of the categories that will be considered will include the buildings:

• Management
• Indoor Environment Quality
• Energy
• Transport
• Water
• Materials
• Land Use & Ecology
• Emissions
• Innovation

Environmentally Sustainability Design is crucial to maximising the capital investment in the building asset. The approach to this project will be to maximise the sites potential through passive design theory; using the building structure and massing as climactic modifiers. Employing key sustainability design principles for a temperate climate within the building envelope's design will reduce the buildings dependency on active building services, and thus to reduce the energy footprint and ongoing maintenance and service costs. Passive systems can produce a simpler and more cost effective building.

Key principles include:

• Passive solar design with well insulated thermal mass
• Maximise night time cooling in summer
• Consider convective (stack) ventilation
• Build a more compact shaped building with good cross ventilation in summer
• Maximise solar access, exposure to cooling breezes and cool air drainage.
• Protect from strong, cold winters and dusty summer winds
• Shade all east and west glass in summer
• Provide shaded outdoor living areas
• Consider adjustable shading to control solar access
• Auxiliary heating may be required but we should try to design the building to perform without
• Use evaporative cooling, if required but we should try to design the building to perform without
• Avoid air-conditioning
• Use reflective insulation to keep out summer heat
• Use bulk insulation for ceilings, walls and exposed floors
• Consider double glazing
• Use ponds and water in shaded courtyards to provide evaporative cooling
• Draught seal thoroughly. Use air locks to all entries.

The Design Team will investigate whole of life issues surrounding building construction elements and using this methodology to provide advice on where money should be spent to achieve the key ecologically sustainable development ratings or equivalent.

All possible solutions afforded in a new building will be reviewed (based on Rating requirements and Value for Money) including all passive design elements and the best value active systems,

including:

• Energy generation
• Solar Thermal systems
• Air filtering and conditioning
• Rainwater harvesting, storage, recycling and saving devices
• Waste management

The Design Team will consider the use of natural materials from local and/or sustainable sources, the use of recycled and/or reused materials and the intelligent use of structural materials, calling for less secondary finishes and maintenance. In addition to the Building the surrounding area, region and the buildings impact on the community will be considered. Particularly links to the planned pedestrian spine to create a safe and enlivened space that celebrates the Campus, local activities, its community and its climate. The surrounding built environment will include shelter, provision of shade, protection from Winter Winds, Embrace Summer Breezes, and engage the community at various times of the day.

7 Building Information Guides:

Information educating the Building User will be posted on UNE's website and around the building. This could be in the form of interactive monitors, digital media or static displays (that could be up-dated regularly) to inform the User of How to use the sustainable building, how to operate elements of the design and to display monitoring of temperature, solar energy generation, water harvesting, water use and the like. The media could also include the ingredients of the building, such as %/quantity or concrete, timber, glass, steel; delivery of materials; carbon emissions of building construction and use; material source; carbon footprint of design process; and offset/savings/payback.

8 Identity

The identity of the building is to visibly define the use of the building. This is to be done by employing the colours commonly used within the Pharmaceutical Industry, in particular the

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's 'Blue". Finishes are to be professional, clinical, white, crisp and clean.

• Materiality should be gloss, durable, sleek
• Pride
• Quality
• Place-making
• Vibrancy
• Visual Interest

Generally the project is visualised as a friendly and accessible place – a place of genuine welcome, transparency and interest. It is to be an aesthetically pleasing place – perhaps using elements

other than size alone to gain this prestige and presence.

9 Functionality

Lighting:

Lighting will play an important role in the task of maintaining a safe and secure, welcoming place that has its own memorable identity. Creative use of lighting is seen as one possibility for engaging discrete well lit areas for the occupants. The lighting will be energy-efficient with a combination of ambient and task orientated lighting. Lighting is seen as potential art, a security device and a means of communicating information. It is an important matter that requires attention to the form of the fitting and its outcome. Lighting has the potential to mark place and define its degrees of intimacy and openness. The place should define its purpose and function with as much clarity and definition and fun and intrigue as possible, without becoming kitsch.

10 Liveability

Space for relaxation

11 Compatibility

The issue of compatibility in all equipment, fittings, materials and systems requires attention to ensure that there are no problems with the functioning/performance of the whole.

12 Quality

This building is being designed to meet today's needs, but it should also take into account possible future requirements. Although the brief does not define any particular future for this site, unknown possibilities need to be dreamt of so that others might be able to develop ideas and let the centre grow into new times. UNE is clear on the need for this place to hold its presence and importance over a time-scale of twenty years and more. With this vision in mind, it is clear that UNE is requiring a centre that can be efficiently and effectively maintained, expanded and upgraded – perhaps reused, as the times and functions require.

13 Style

The existing 1958 building comprises of many of the original 1950's features, in particular the main stair case, select door furniture, and terrazzo floors. These elements will be restored and the design will compliment the design of the 1950's and 1960's.

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Design

The Pharmacy Building wing will be distinct from it's adjacent host. The new external cladding will comprise of casement windows to maximise natural ventilation and to capture the breezes in summer. This cladding consists of Architectural Wall panel, a high thermal performing low maintenance material into which high performance single glazing is to be installed. The existing roof over the majority of the building is app. 18-months old, thus the new roof over the 'elbow' will match this, along with its gutter and fascia. The main features of the Southern facade will be an extensive passive shading system and the Green Facade on three sides of the lift shaft, raising the height of the building. The feature of the Northern facade will be the glazed atrium and openness of the north teaching and communal spaces and the Green Roof which 'folds' down into the courtyard planters and in-ground planting. This green link will aid the increase of biodiversity on the site. The building's small extension maximises passive solar design and embraces climatic design principles by facing true north. And the jaggered facade of the North will create intimate wind breaks for winter gatherings.

Internally other than the Compounding Laboratory, adjacent Preparation Room and existing double brick walls, the partitions will be demountable, allowing for future flexibility of the layout. The existing structure is to be retained (except for the removal of two columns from the Tutorial Rooms, and exposed where possible. The existing terrazzo floors are to be retained and as much of the existing timber wall panelling is to be reused in the 'elbow' ceiling, where possible. The initial cross-ventilation fanlight design is to be retained within the new structure and additional daylight and stack ventilation tubes are to be added to aid ventilation.

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Photos of Completed Building