A new headquarters for Australia’s largest private centre for the vision- and hearing-impaired has been approved by the NSW government and will be built at Macquarie University.
Designed by WMK Architecture with Oculus as landscape architect, the centre will offer diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation, and will include research and education – including a preschool for up to 80 students and a primary school for 120 students.
The facility will be known as the Next Sense Centre of Excellence, formerly known as the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, which has been operating since 1861.
Next Sense’s chief executive Chris Rehn said the $74.5 million facility will allow the organization to continue delivering best practice services.
“Our combined expertise and voice will be a formidable force for good, for people with hearing and vision loss, and for knowledge sharing and influence,” he said.
WMK Architecture’s design is defined by the human scale and features a variety of skillion structures orientated to the landscape.
“A pre-cast concrete base supports brick-veneer construction, with skillion blocks oriented to natural amenity, green space and precicnt views,” the design statement reads
The facility is expected to open for the 2023 academic year.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
