| 91 T T Kelly Deeks Medical centre a winner for Redcliffs community Photos: Sarah Rowlands Photography Johnstone Callaghan Architects ARCHITECTURE The new, purpose-built Redcliffs Medical Centre, open since November 2023, has provided a welcome and invigorating addition to the local community, with the features of its distinctive streetscape safeguarded, and its people receiving the highest quality of medical care in a welcoming and comfortable environment. Designed by Johnstone Callaghan Architects and built by Steve Brown Builders, the Redcliffs Medical Centre project had a dedicated and very passionate dream team, which included owner and general practitioner Dr Felix Rueppell. Having well and truly grown out of their earthquake-damaged facility, Felix and the Redcliffs Medical Centre team needed a bigger, community-focused space with the ability to meet current and future demand. Together, the tenacious project team was determined to make this vision a reality. The result is an NZIA-award-winning refurbishment of an existing character shop on Redcliffs’ Main Road for Redcliffs Pharmacy and a dual-formed extension to the rear of the site for Redcliffs Medical Centre. In order not to outscale the small shop at the front, the medical centre is located behind in a black brick form that stretches along the south boundary, while staff and non-public facilities are contained within a white metal box above the central entranceway. A lit white cross facing Main Rd serves as a beacon for the community. “The staff room was a big part of the brief,” project lead Mike Callaghan says. “In their previous building, staff had had to share their space with admin and storage, so Felix wanted this new building to really focus on their wellbeing. “By moving upstairs, we didn’t need to provide lifts for the public, and while access is through the reception area, they can circulate through and into their own space for a proper break.” Although it would have been easier to clear the site and start from scratch, the retention of the existing shop has made the new building richer and a positive contribution to Redcliffs Village. It had been renovated many times over the years and had three different varieties of windows. Looking back over historical photos, Mike and the team managed to find one window bay that was actually original, so they had a second window made to match, and have managed to replicate the original condition of the shop front. Despite an arduous planning process, then having to build through Covid and its cost pressures followed by inflation, Mike says the persistence of his client and their trust in Johnstone Callaghan Architects is what got this project across the line. “We had a lot of work to do around traffic, especially since the Christchurch Coastal Pathway crosses right in front of this building,” he says. “It was very hard work, and the building was probably the easy part!” The hard work makes the reward much sweeter. “I’m proud of the way it’s working. Seeing it operate and seeing it hum, and be that community hub that was envisioned from the start is very gratifying. The smile on Felix’s face says it all.” “I’m proud of the way it’s working. Seeing it operate and seeing it hum, and be that community hub that was envisioned from the start is very gratifying.” The new, purpose-built Redcliffs Medical Centre, open since November 2023, has provided a welcome and invigorating addition to the local community, Proud to support Johnstone Callaghan Architects and the Redcli s Medical Centre PROUD TO WORK WITH JOHNSTONE CALLAGHAN ARCHITECTS PHONE: 0800 MIDLAND | WWW.MIDLANDBRICK.CO.NZ Midland Large Signs 1200mm x 300mm .indd 1 17/06/13 10:48 AM
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