built to learn

Conceived as part of a master-plan, together with the future School of Arts and campus landscaping, the new Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) Tourism, Hospitality and Wellbeing course building replaces a number of temporary classrooms on the site, and reinforces the campus edge, entry points and circulation routes.

The 2000 square metre building contains a collection of student facilities, ranging from a restaurant, bar, café, kitchens and classroom on the ground floor, with hair and beauty salons, training rooms and staff rooms on level two, generic teaching spaces, tiered lecture theatre on level three, an Adventure Tourism salesroom and climbing wall, and associated offices, services, storage and resource rooms. The complex uses of the building require a high level of services, which have generally been left exposed for accessibility and visual interest.

Materials are used predominantly in their natural form for visual appearance and low-maintenance, with a patinated copper tower providing a landmark entry point, cedar sun-shades to the north side and clear coated fibre-cement cladding at street level. Located parallel to Nile Street, the south-side acts as the ‘public face’ and the north-side the ‘private face’ addressing the campus, each side being treated differently in response.

The building is designed to reduce energy consumption through orientation, external solar shading, high levels of insulation and good natural lighting. Natural ventilation utilising thermal mass and night time purging, controlled by the BMS, are used to reduce cooling loads. and solar panels are used to reduce energy for water heating.

Inside a striking paint colour palette of Resene Buddha Gold (dry gold), Resene Genie (rosy violet), Resene Heartbreaker (pale lilac blue), Resene Escapade (grey blue) and Resene Mexican Wave (red based orange) is hard to miss, with Resene Quarter Spanish White (light neutral) acting as the unifying neutral on remaining walls and ceilings. Interior steelwork is finished in Resene Blast Grey 2 (charcoal metallic) for both protective and decorative effect. Resene Zylone Sheen covers most broadwall areas for a desirable low sheen finish with by Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel on trims and joinery and Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in wet areas. Interior timber, finished in clear Resene Aquaclear, acts as a natural complement to the warm colour palette. Retro Delux 7013-43 wallpaper is employed as a striking feature in the salon area.

The warm orange tone is continued outside where Resene Shark (deep charcoal) acts as a skyward deep neutral backdrop to the vibrant Resene Fire (brick orange) base, a hint of the colour palette that lies within. Resene Mica Bond protects exterior steelwork, while a system of Resene Solventborne Aquapel and topcoats of Resene Uracryl 403 clear on fibreboard protects against graffiti and the weather. The clear finishes are joined by Environmental Choice approved paint systems of Resene X-200 weathertight membrane and Resene Lumbersider waterborne low sheen on exterior painted areas. 

Just one part of a master plan for the campus, this new building certainly stands its ground on style and functionality.

Architect: Jerram Tocker Barron Architects
Building Contractor: Andrea Wilkes, Wilkes Construction Ltd
Painting Contractor:  Pinnacle Painters  
Resene: Philip Thompson, Nelson/Marlborough Branch Manager
From the Resene News – issue 3/2010

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