66 | Shortlisted projects reflect flair The Te Kāika Wellbeing Hub is a holistic healthcare facility that integrates general practice with family well-being and outreach social services. Photo: Graham Warman ARCHITECTURE McCoy Wixon Architects: Te Kāika Wellbeing Hub T T Kim Bowden “It’s breaking new ground in terms of its approach to healthcare.” Southern architecture firm McCoy Wixon Architects is being recognised for its work on two very different community buildings. Operating out of offices in Dunedin and Wānaka, the firm has been shortlisted for the Southern Architecture Awards. The first project to make the 31-strong shortlist is Te Kaika Wellbeing Hub – a holistic healthcare facility that integrates general practice with family well-being and outreach social services under one roof. McCoy Wixon Architects was contracted by construction firm Naylor Love for the job, which required a collaborative design approach involving multiple entities. Architect Matthew Mitchell, one of the firm’s directors, describes the project as an exciting one for both the practice and the client. “It’s breaking new ground in terms of its approach to healthcare,” he says. “Before you even talk building design, it was a really bold and commendable brief.” The building reflects the wraparound health services it houses, with exposed structural elements and timber showcased throughout the interior – all achieved on a lean budget. Comprising four gabled forms, the silhouette of the building is not unlike a group of wharenui – typically the focal point of a marae. But the design also had to blend into its surroundings. “Taking over the site of a former school, the building sits within a residential context,” Matt says. A brick and weatherboard exterior was designed in direct reference to historic villas and bungalow homes that border the site. The result, Matt says, is a building that “nestles into” its site. The second shortlisted project is the Trinity Catholic College Music and Art Suites – an upgrade to a heritage-listed 1930s’ building to transform it into a modern teaching and learning facility. “It was in urgent need of maintenance and repair,” Matt says. “Whilst respecting the heritage fabric of the building, our job, aside from the music and art suite component, was also to bring the building up to current compliance standards in terms of accessibility, fire safety and structural integrity.” The brief presented some interesting challenges – and some equally creative solutions. “We were looking at how to facilitate full building accessibility – ultimately, a lift and stair tower were required to be added to the building,” Matt says. By incorporating the new stair and lift tower, the team added another exciting element to the project. “At basement level, the tower opened up an adjacent, under-utilised plant space – an old boiler room,” Matt says. “It was a fully concrete, enclosed space, which we thought presented a fantastic opportunity to locate a music recording studio, given its acoustic properties.” And it did – the basement recording studio remained part of the design from concept to completion. Matt and the team are just as proud of some of the aspects you can’t see, such as seismic strengthening done in a way that’s sympathetic to the building’s heritage status, and acoustic isolation measures integrated with interior walls. Matt says the awards are important recognition of a job well done – for both the firm and its clients. “For us, it’s kind of like a full stop.” He adds the finished projects have been years in the making, so it is satisfying to reflect on what’s been achieved. “We really pride ourselves on our long history of great design, and that has been reflected by our industry peers through the awards we’ve received over the decades our firm has existed.” 29 Fox St., South Dunedin & Alexandra 03 455 2057 Fax 03 455 5959 info@stewartconstruction.co.nz www.stewartconstruction.co.nz Construction Ltd See our website for more information • Passive Fire Protection • Specialised Kitchens • Housing • Commercial Construction • Timber Joinery • Alterations We’re proud to support McCoy & Wixon Architects • Project Management • Engineer to the Contract • Landlord and Tenancy Coordination • Operational Commissioning Proudly Supporting the Te Kāika Wellbeing Hub Project www.ppl-nz.co.nz 021 336 534 HEATING • VENTILATION • AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING VENTILATION • AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING • VENTILATION VENTILATION • AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING • VENTILATION • AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING HEATING • VENTILATION • AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING • VENTILATION • AIR CONDITIONING PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH TRINITY COLLEGE PROVIDING HEATING, VENTILATION, AIRCONDITIONING & HYDRAULICS PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANCY AND DESIGN SOLUTIONS 020 4079 0522 CONTACT
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