Overview

On this page:

Aims

The new building will enable:

  • The Christchurch University campus’ world-class health science research and education programmes to grow
  • New opportunities for collaboration with other important partners in the Health Precinct
  • Moving and co-locating departments dispersed around the University’s Christchurch campus into the Health Precinct
  • The University’s commitment to the Health Precinct (a physical area and partner organisations involved in health activities in Canterbury)

Who is it for?

The Christchurch campus is a training base for medical students during the three years of their undergraduate degree. It is also a research-intensive campus, hosting postgraduate health science students and world-class research groups whose work benefits patients nationally and internationally.

Currently, more than 1,000 students study at the Christchurch campus, which has more than 500 staff.

New Building

The new building will be on the former Tillman’s furniture store site, which the University bought after the 2011 earthquakes as its contribution to Christchurch’s rebuild.

The new building will house:

  • Laboratories for most of the campus’ health research groups
  • Specialist radiology equipment, including a MARS scanner co-invented by a University of Otago, Christchurch professor, and MRI technology to study neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s
  • Groups commercialising their health science discoveries, such as Upstream Medical Technologies which develops and markets tests to speed up the diagnosis of heart conditions
  • Clinical research department
  • A hub for post-graduate nursing studies

The building will also encourage interaction and collaboration by bringing staff and students together, while providing:

  • new workspaces
  • social spaces
  • a variety of teaching spaces including large flat floor lecture theatre
  • a grand staircase for University and public events

Redevelopment

Once the existing eight-storey building on Riccarton Avenue is redeveloped, it will be used mostly for teaching and research projects involving Christchurch Hospital staff and patients.

Campus and Precinct

The overall redevelopment will create a true campus feeling for staff and students as the new and existing buildings will be less than a minute’s walk from each other. Currently, staff and students are spread between the main building and several smaller buildings.

The new building will be a central pillar of the Te Papa Hauora/Health Precinct and enable greater collaboration with other organisations in the precinct.

FAQs

Showers, toilets and bike facilities

How many  toilets will there be?

Thirtyseven. The number of toilets in the building is in line with the NZ building code (G13) and there are more toilets than the number in the Riccarton Building.

  • Lower Ground End of Trip – 1 accessible / 2 standard – Non-gender specific
  • Lower Ground CARA – 1 accessible / 1 standard – non-gender specific
  • Ground Floor – 2 accessible / 4 standard – non-gender specific
  • Level 1 – 1 accessible / 2 standard – non-gender specific; 3 male / 6 female
  • Level 2 – 1 accessible / 2 standard – non-gender specific
  • Level 3 – 1 accessible / 3 standard – non-gender specific
  • Level 4 – 1 accessible / 2 standard – non-gender specific
  • Level 5 – 1 accessible / 3 standard – non-gender specific

Are there gender-specific toilets?

There are dedicated men’s and women’s toilets on Ground Floor and Level 1. The rest of the building has non-gender-specific toilets on all levels including lower ground “end of trip facilities”. All non-gender-specific toilets are fully enclosed cubicles with their own handwash basin.

Will there be gender-specific changing rooms?

There are showering facilities on the lower ground floor as part of the “end of trip facilities”.  These are fully enclosed cubicles which are not gender specific but have room for changing and there is a mixed gender area for drying hair & preparing for the day.

Will gender-neutral toilets be provided?

There are gender-specific toilets on Level 1 and unisex toilets and an accessible toilet on all other levels. Non-gender-specific toilets have been included to meet the University’s response to social accountability and cultural diversity. Every toilet will be a fully enclosed room with its own hand washing facilities.

How to get bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters to the lower ground floor?

At the east entrance on ground floor (Black & White Cafe side) inside the wind lobby entrance there will be a swipe access door to take wheel bikes and scooters down a low-level staircase with a bike track to the “end of trip” facilities where there are bike parks and a bike repair station. There will be a number of outlets for charging e-bikes and e-scooters and a water station.

How easy will it be to move from the bike on-ramp to LG in wet weather?

The ramp is designed for use in all weather conditions. For anyone on foot wanting to use the facilities there is the option to use the stairs on the west side of the ground floor near the entry.

Workspace

Are there any big seminar rooms in new building?

A variety of spaces can be used for seminars and meetings

  • Teaching Room: 120pp (divisible to 2 x 60pp) on Level 1
  • Teaching Room: 80pp (divisible to 2 x 40pp) on Level 1

What space will be available for research meetings where scientists frequently require screens/laptops?

A large number and variety of spaces (meeting spaces and quiet rooms) will be available on each floor, which provide for staff to plug in laptops and there are screens to connect to in some meeting rooms. Acoustic treatments will protect confidentiality and privacy. All staff computers will be converted to laptops during the next few years.

How will the ceiling service droppers affect the “look-through and feel” of the workspace?

One umbilical cord will service a cluster of desks. From this umbilical cord, cables will branch out in cable trays under the desks to service each workstation. The umbilical cord system has been chosen in preference to floor boxes to give the flexibility to change desk layouts in the future.

How much flexibility is there regarding different desk sizes for staff and students?

The layout presented by the design team is an indicative layout only and we expect a common-sense approach to prevail. We have been guided by the UO Design and Facilities Standard for desk sizes for the allocation of either a staff-sized 1600mm desk or PG student 1400mm desk. However, in the three to six months before moving into the building we will be coordinating with HoDs and users on the appropriate desk sizes for students’ requirements and for the layout of neighbours/clusters of the research groups. 

The desk layout and configuration is designed to be flexible so it can be adapted in future years to suit growth and research group sizes for staff/student numbers and group sizes.

What type of pattern is there on the hanging screens and are they portable?

If the budget allows, screens will be included in the design. The intention is they will be suspended from the ceiling and able to be moved to suit the layout of neighbourhoods/groups. Any decision on the pattern on these screens will incorporate the feedback to date (such as the issues with clusters of small holes).

Will the desks have computer monitor arms?

Computer monitor arms were excluded for budgetary reasons following completion of Preliminary Design (PD). They will be re-instated if the budget allows.

How does the design take window glare on computer screens into account?

The building’s facade system is designed to reduce the impact of sun and glare on computer screens. In addition, there are blinds on the north-facing windows. The proposed layout is indicative only. Approximately six to nine months prior to occupancy the layouts will be reviewed in consultation between HoDs and users.

How many lockers will be on the individual levels and what size are they?

Personal storage has been included in the design. As with all elements of the building, budget constraints mean we need to take a pragmatic approach and provide the best balance. Storage options include lockers in a variety of sizes in the “end of trip facility” on the lower ground floor as well as a smaller locker room on levels 1-5 near the central toilet facilities and lockable mobile under-desk pedestal at each staff workstation. Other features such as coat racks will be detailed in the next phase.

What storage is provided for work materials, e.g., files and manuals?

Every workspace will have a storeroom for hardcopy storage such as manuals and files unable to be stored digitally.

In addition, there will be plenty of lockable tambours (1020mm H x 900mm W x 450mm D) situated in and around the workplace neighbourhoods and in the shared/single offices as well as storage in the utility space on each floor. Each workspace will also have a mobile under-desk unit.

We also have the facility to archive documents off site if they are not needed frequently but need to be accessible within 24-48 hours.

How is the need for frosted glass or other visual screening on all offices and all “quiet rooms” met? These are the only spaces available to have difficult conversations, or to counsel upset students or distressed staff. There needs to be multiple places to “retreat to” in private.

The privacy requirements for offices and quiet rooms (e.g., opaque glass) will be further developed as part of the cultural narrative.

All glazing in the quiet rooms, offices, meeting rooms and teaching spaces have increased acoustics rating for confidentiality and sensitivity.

How will seating arrangements be configured to minimise visible distractions and noise disruption? Scientists’ jobs require too much attention and frequent visitors might cause hindrance in concentration.

Various seating arrangements can be used to minimise such distractions within the workspace. The design has a layered effect, with the offices/meeting rooms acting as a buffering layer from the noisier collaborative spaces. The Quiet Rooms will also provide an option for noisier conversations/Zoom meetings away from the quieter concentrative workspace.

How is confidentiality and privacy of conversations protected?

The project has engaged an acoustics engineer and all areas where confidentiality is required will have the appropriate acoustics treatment.

Currently lab workspaces have the individual or group offices. What drove the new open plan workspace design?

The workplace design has been driven by spaces constraints, affordability and to align to the University Facilities Design Guidelines. The University strategy and design principle is for a modern open area with fewer offices. There was extensive engagement with key staff members to determine the appropriate balance of offices on each floor.

The Project Team and members of the Design Team toured to a number of Australian universities in May 2019 to look at workspace. Feedback repeatedly received from the various institutions visited, was that critical to a successful design is having a variety of spaces to support the workspace which allows for concentrative work, i.e., meeting rooms, quiet spaces and a buffered zone (offices) to the noisier collaboration spaces.

Where in the building can people eat?

Spaces for eating include:

  • the grand stair
  • couches, tables and leaners in collaboration spaces around the atrium throughout the building
  • booth seating next to the kitchens on levels 1-5
  • an outdoor space at ground level with tables and chairs and a grab-n-go café inside
  • There will still be the larger café in the Riccarton building which supports the entire campus.

How are presentations to large groups/all-staff accommodated?

On the ground floor we will have two projector screens which drop down in front of the grand stair. There is seating in this area for 240 people for any presentation or “all-staff” meeting. This space can also accommodate afterhours functions for the University.

Is charging of devices catered for during lectures?

Yes, there will be charging points available in the teaching spaces.

How do we book meeting rooms, and can anyone book them?

There will be a centralised online booking system. All meeting rooms are able to be booked by all building users. The “Quiet Rooms are designed as non-bookable dip-in spaces for short periods of time for all staff and students to use.

Is there Wi-Fi available for everyone?

All users, staff and students will have access to the Wi-Fi  throughout the building.

Multi-faith rooms

How many prayer rooms are there in the building?

There are 2 multi-faith rooms on Level 2 & Level 4. There has been consultancy on the requirements for a multi-faith room, including with the Muslim Chaplaincy. There is also a foot-wash facility to support the Muslim prayer protocols.

Parenting room

Is there a parenting room?

The parent room has been renamed the Wellbeing, Quiet and Parent Room. We estimate the use of the room by parents will likely be low, so it has been changed to a multi-purpose room incorporating a space for those wanting some quiet contemplative time, or to use as a 1-on-1 meeting space. It will also accommodate parental needs such as space in which to breastfeed or to use a breast pump. The ground floor accessible toilet has a drop-down baby change table for any members of the public visiting the building.

Café services

Will there be a cafe in the building?

A small commercial “grab-and-go” type cafe will operate on the ground floor Public Spaces area. Pre-packed food and coffee/beverages will likely be sold here. There are also several cafes close to the building.

What does the café provide?

There will be a small takeaway-cafe on the ground floor providing coffee and other beverages, and pre-packaged food.

User feedback to the design process

We’ve attended some interesting meetings and workshops so how does our feedback inform the design process?

As part of the overall Project Management Plan, a rigorous user stakeholder engagement, communications and feedback process has captured user feedback to inform design.

How do I keep up to speed and monitor progress of this project?

The UOCCR Project has the blog you are reading which contains:

  • who’s involved in the Project Team
  • user group membership
  • newsfeed
  • contact details
  • Frequently asked questions (FAQs).

During early works on site and throughout the construction phase communications are issued regularly to stakeholders and all staff.

Is there any student representation in design of building?

Yes, there has been student engagement in some of our reference groups.

Green Star and waste system

Green Star Accreditation – What does this mean?

Green Star is an internationally recognised sustainability rating system for the design, construction and operation of buildings, fitout and communities. The building design will achieve NZ Excellence (60-74 points) across nine categories: energy, water, materials, indoor environmental quality, transport, land use & ecology, management, emissions and innovation.

Is there a sustainable system for waste?

We will use the “Method Bin System” used in Dunedin. This is a bin system to accommodate six different waste types – organics (food waste), landfill, recycling, glass, paper and soft plastic. These bins will be placed where appropriate in the new building to ensure we collect the waste correctly to align with UO’s commitment to sustainability.

To support the removal of all sustainable and non-sustainable waste, a Waste Management Plan has been created and approved at EPT, which will be developed into policy during the construction phase.

Cultural sensitivity

Cultural sensitivity – How has this been considered?

We have a reference group which reviews the building from a cultural sensitivities perspective to ensure cultural etiquette is considered and designed for. For example: Māori protocols for kai ana (eating food) or te whakarite o kai (preparation of food) protocols; providing a welcoming environment for all who enter the building; including requirements for our Muslim community to pray.

Do we have Māori-specific rooms in the building?

We don’t have Māori-specific rooms. However, all rooms will be named in both Māori and English. We have had regular consultation with regards to cultural sensitivities, to ensure the design understands and considers Māori protocols, for example eating and food prep areas appropriately located away from ablutions.

Accessibility

Does the building provide for accessibility?

An integral aspect of the project is for the building to meet the requirements of UO’s Design Facilities Standards guidelines (DFS) and also Section 14 of NZS 4121:2001 Design for Access and Mobility. Each phase has a certified reviewer from the Accessibility Reference Group who reviews the building layouts to ensure accessibility has been appropriately considered and regulations are met.

Are there accessible ways for disabled people?

The building caters for disabled people with ramps, an accessible shower, accessible toilets on every floor, lowered height benches and adjustable height benches, and corridors and doorways sufficient in width to fit a wheelchair. The building is designed to the NZ Building Code Section 14 of NZS 4121:2001 for accessibility & mobility.

Artwork and plants

Will the building have artwork?

Some existing artworks will go across to the new building and an artist has been engaged for commissioning of a major piece of new artwork and to inform the cultural narrative in consultation with the architect. Any Māori artwork will be overseen by Ngāi Tūāhuriri to ensure it aligns with the building’s cultural narrative.

Will we have live plants in the new building and who will water them?

The project has a budget for live plants in the new building, particularly in workspace areas, to promote health and wellbeing for building occupants. There will also be ongoing operational funding for an external contractor to maintain and care for the plants.

Security

What is the security for the building?

CCTV will be located throughout the building, which has a real-time live feed monitored 24/7 by Campus Watch in Dunedin. There will also be an onsite security guard 24 hours a day. Any alarm activated will immediately alert Campus Watch, who will coordinate the appropriate response.

Change management

How does the University manage change and ways to change the culture of how people work to reduce the cultural shock?

The project has a Change Manager who has been appointed to consult and work with the project team and end users on changes to the ways of working in and using the new building. Engagement is through sessions and workshops with the UOC Dean, Heads of Departments, the user planning team and wider users.