The new building that is home to the Queen’s School of Medicine has won an Award of Merit at the 2014 Livable City Design Awards.

Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in Toronto and local firm Shoalts and Zaback Architects and built by local construction firm M.Sullivan and Son Limited, the $77-million facility opened in fall 2011, in time for the Class of 2015’s first classes at Queen’s.

"Queen's is honored to receive this award from the City and proud to have our facility recognized with others in helping to celebrate Kingston's long tradition of architectural excellence and creative urban management," says John Witjes, Associate Vice-Principal (Facilities).

Full of natural light and buzzing with activity at all times of day, the building features two spaces equipped with the latest acoustic and audiovisual technologies where full lectures or small group learning sessions can take place. There are also 30 small rooms throughout the building designed for small group study sessions.

The new Queen’s School of Medicine building comes complete with a simulation clinic and simulation hospital and operating rooms for students to develop their practical skills. A floor in the building is dedicated to foundational sciences like anatomy, pharmacology, toxicology and the Anatomy Museum.

“The way that Shoalts and Zaback Architects, who are local architects, worked with Diamond Schmitt Architects of Toronto was very important because they are local and so they wanted the New Medical Building to be as spectacular as they could make it within the budget,” says Yvonne Holland, Director of Campus Planning at Queen’s. “I think from a project management perspective, nothing short of Herculean effort was exercised here to make this happen.”

The 2014 Livable City Awards recognize Kingston projects completed between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013. Projects were evaluated based on: significance to the city, significance to their community, innovation, context, execution, green design and accessibility.

To learn more about the Livable City Design Awards, follow this link. The press release from the City of Kingston is available here.