The newly completed $120 million UQ Oral Health Centre is located alongside UQ School of Medicine and School of Population Health, within the University of Queensland’s Herston Campus. The Centre is Australia’s largest and most advanced tertiary oral health facility, equipped with research laboratories, clinical simulation areas, and lecture theatres.
The entire site is heritage listed and contains pre-existing buildings with a strong heritage significance. This factor remains fundamental to the architectural expression of the new Oral Health Centre.
Cox Rayer Architects have created a design heavily informed by the neighbouring Mayne Medical School, which asserts a strong presence in the landscape.
A marriage of old and new is explored, with the new Oral Health Centre defining itself as a bold, contemporary addition to the site, whilst also being cautious not to overshadow the adjacent heritage buildings.
In order to achieve this strong design intent, Dotdash have been engaged to extend the architects vision, and create a family of signage that works in unity with the built form.
This has been achieved by ensuring the family embodies key architectural design elements, such as abstract form and innovative materials. A colour palette has been utilised which aims to mute the clinical nature of the Oral Health discipline, and instead communicate a modern, elegant aesthetic.
Dotdash have implemented a wayfinding strategy which functions to clearly navigate the Centre’s students and patients throughout its many facilities, whilst also reinforcing a broader design vision.
Client Cox Rayner Architects
Project Team Heath Pedrola, Irene Ostash, Juri Yamamura
Photography Angus Martin
