Peninsula Medical School

  • Client Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Location Truro, Cornwall
  • Cost £14m
  • Completed 2004

A new gateway building prominently located at the entrance to the Royal Cornwall Hospital campus in the cathedral city of Truro.

Run in partnership with the University of Exeter, the University of Plymouth and the NHS in Devon and Cornwall the new Knowledge Spa building combines the Peninsula Medical School and the Well Cornwall Project into one building, delivering education and training for the NHS.

Designed in conjunction with two other PMS projects in Plymouth and Exeter, the building contains medical research and development facilities, lecture and seminar rooms, simulated wards, training theatres, library and offices

The building is designed around a fire engineered, atrium philosophy that incorporates sustainable environmental building strategies, including the use of natural ventilation and passive night time cooling.

Designed with extensive use of glass to provide bright and naturally lit spaces, the design was carefully modelled to control solar heat gain through the use of specialise glazing and brise soliel.

"It is a very important day for Cornwall. Not only because of the exciting opportunities for training, but also because of the important opportunities for economic regeneration, and that it makes a reality of community involvement in health."

HRH Prince Charles, Official Opening Day
Peninsula Medical School
Original illustrative sketch view of the Knowledge Spa