John McAslan + Partners has been selected to design a new dental teaching facility and student hub at the University of Malawi College of Medicine in Blantyre, Malawi. The design programme is being delivered as part of the Scottish Government funded Malawi Dental School & Integrated Teaching Facility, a collaboration between the University of Glasgow and University of Malawi College of Medicine to improve oral health and access to dental care for the citizens of Malawi.

The building will house the new Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree programme that was introduced at the University in August last year. The new facility will provide the opportunity to create an integrated building providing much needed specialist clinical and teaching facilities such as open plan group clinical bays, research laboratories and minor operation theatres for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree and the people of Blantyre. Shared Learning Resource and general teaching spaces will also be organised around a central student hub.

Intended to lead the way in sustainable design, the facility will incorporate passive design principles, highly efficient systems and locally sourced materials.