Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine
Project of Distinction, New Construction | 2025 Education Design Showcase
ESa
Project Information
Facility Use: Higher Education Institution
Project Type: New Construction
Category: Whole Building / Campus Design
Location: Tennessee
District/Inst.: Belmont University
Chief Administrator: Anderson Spickard, III M.D., M.S.
Completion Date: 4/8/2024
Gross Area: 198,000 square feet
Area Per Student: 250 square feet
Site Size: 4.5 acres
Current Enrollment: n/a
Capacity: 800
Cost per Student: $205,000
Cost per Sq. Ft.: $828
Total Cost: $165,000,000
The 198,000-square-foot, Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine, is designed to nurture a holistic interdisciplinary learning atmosphere, fostering collaboration between present students and future medical practitioners, mirroring authentic clinical settings. Notably, the building's design paralleled curriculum development—an uncommon approach—permitting real-time adjustments to meet educational requirements. Forward-thinking design elements, including designated shelf space for future expansions like additional faculty offices, underscore the building's visionary design approach.
The third and fourth floor of the Frist College of Medicine is home to the 65,000-sqaure-foot Center for Interprofessional Engagement and Simulation. The state-of-the-art facility offers a dynamic environment where students come together to learn, practice and refine their skills in a realistic setting. One of the largest of its kind in the nation, the Center features cutting edge equipment, technologies and resources to provide students with interdisciplinary experiential learning. It features a series of immersive technology, skills, assessment and apartment labs; fully simulated hospital rooms with debrief spaces; a preparation clinic suite; and inpatient and community pharmacies.
Through collaborative planning sessions, deliberate design choices, and a commitment to integrating the latest technologies, the center has emerged as a beacon of innovation in medical education. With its sleek interiors, student-friendly environment, and forward-thinking approach, the Thomas F. Frist, Jr., College of Medicine embodies Belmont's ethos of fostering collaboration, pushing boundaries, and preparing students for the challenges of tomorrow's healthcare landscape.
The design process emphasized professional student needs, acknowledging that these students spend extensive hours in the building. As a result, our team created various types of spaces, including respite areas, activity zones, and different study environments to accommodate group and individual work. The facility offers diverse study spaces, such as open tables in a coffee shop style, semi-enclosed booths without doors for small group work, and dedicated rooms that can be scheduled in advance. For the medical school, specific requirements include a student lounge with gaming, a pool table, a TV relaxation zone, a kitchen area, and access to outdoor and natural spaces. Insights from medical school curriculum development were also integrated. The collaborative efforts and insights from industry trends aimed to enhance both the educational and user experience of the facility.
Architect(s):
ESa
615-760-6736