Sensory Guide: Medical and Biological Sciences (MBS) Building

jmn9

Tuesday 3 February 2026

Introduction

The Medical and Biological Sciences (MBS) Building is the hub for students and staff in the School of Medicine. Some laboratories are shared with the School of Biology.

This sensory guide outlines what you might experience in key teaching, social, and communal spaces within the building.

MBS Building is located on the North Haugh, St Andrews (KY16 9TF).

Main Building, Entrance, and Stairways

Visual 👁

• Modern, clean design
• Lots of natural light from several floor-to-ceiling windows
• Good signage

Audio 👂

• Generally quiet, but upper levels can have noise from passersby 🔉

Touch & Personal Space ✋

• Spacious layout allows easy movement
• Clean, uncluttered surfaces

Smell 👃

• Clinical smell throughout the building, stronger on upper levels 👃

Fairlie’s Café

Visual 👁

• Lots of natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows
• Open plan within entrance, allowing visual access to the café

Audio 👂

• Can get busy and noisy during peak hours 🔉

Touch & Personal Space ✋

• Several seating options: hard plastic seats, high stools, and couches
• Open layout allows social or individual seating

Smell 👃

• Food smells during operating hours 👃
• Open Mon-Fri 8am–4:30pm

Booth Lecture Theatre

Visual 👁

• Adjustable lighting
• Back walls are glass, looking onto the entrance
• Curved, tiered seating for clear sightlines from all seats

Touch & Personal Space ✋

• Padded seats with gaps between them
• Capacity: 301

Smell 👃

• Neutral environment

Clinical Skills Teaching Room

Visual 👁

• Capacity: 26
• Designed for hands-on practice with clinical equipment

Audio 👂

• Quiet, focused space for teaching
• Occasional overlapping noise when teaching two rooms simultaneously with a dividing curtain 🔉

Touch & Personal Space ✋

• Individual workspaces
• Comfortable spacing between students

Smell 👃

• Neutral to slightly clinical depending on activity 👃

Quiet Zone

Visual 👁

• For PGT & PGR students
• Spacious, open area
• Large outdoor windows overlooking green spaces

Audio 👂

• Quiet, low-traffic environment 🔇

Touch & Personal Space ✋

• Ample personal space
• Seating allows for focused study

Smell 👃

• Neutral, calm environment

Outdoor Space

Visual 👁

• Large outdoor area with trees and picnic benches
• Green space allows visual rest

Audio 👂

• Calm ambient outdoor sounds 🔇

Touch & Personal Space ✋

• Picnic benches for seating
• Open space allows distance from others