University of Cincinnati's Health Sciences Building

Meeting growing demand with flexible, collaborative design

As demand increased for the University of Cincinnati’s programs in allied health sciences, students and faculty had outgrown their space, often using makeshift study areas in hallways and struggling to find places for group work. The old buildings were scattered across campus and did not support the collaborative learning that today’s health sciences field demands.

Health Sciences Building at the University of Cincinnati

Combined, this was the catalyst for the design of the modular, flexible plan and large open spaces in the new Health Sciences Building that were intended to inspire cross-disciplinary collaboration and easily flex to accommodate future needs — and the unexpected, such as a pandemic.

Health Sciences Building at the University of Cincinnati

During design, the greatest need was how to plan for enrollment and occupancy growth. That was before the coronavirus outbreak: now, looking towards life post-COVID-19 and as institutions plan how to safely reopen campuses, the facility’s flexible design will make it easier for users to keep their distance, pivot to hybrid learning, and maintain public health guidelines while using the space. When the building can safely open to full capacity, 1,200 students and 130 faculty and staff can learn and teach in a facility that encourages engagement and is the centerpiece for a new, connected health campus. There is plenty of room to maintain physical distancing guidelines and generous natural light throughout. Set back from the street to create connections with other campus buildings, the crescent-shaped building where classrooms and balconies overlook a four-story atrium provides a functional learning environment on the cohesive medical quad.

Health Sciences Building at the University of Cincinnati

Health Sciences Building at the University of Cincinnati

“We wanted a building with plenty of light and a healthy atmosphere, to encourage collaboration among the Academic Health Center colleges,” says Dale Magoteaux, project manager at University of Cincinnati.

Health Sciences Building at the University of Cincinnati

The design team and faculty worked together to determine how the facility will handle expected growth — as well as changes impossible to anticipate, like the coronavirus outbreak. “With this building we wanted to create a true sense of place: a permanent yet flexible home for these programs that will help the department of allied health sciences navigate a rapidly changing industry and world,” says Mark Jolicoeur, managing principal at Perkins and Will. “Being able to provide the architectural design support while quickly adapting to the changing needs required in the face of COVID-19, were key drivers in developing new standards in higher education with this project,” says Vince Terry, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, who serves as regional director for Moody Nolan’s Cincinnati office.

Health Sciences Building at the University of Cincinnati

Key design features include:

Interdisciplinary collaboration: glass-walled classrooms and labs feature large, airy breakout areas along adjacent balconies, which provide opportunities for informal discussions and project work. Bridge like stepped ramps span the atrium to promote wellness: In many older classroom buildings, vertical circulation is handled with simple egress stairs tucked in remote corners, with little to no windows; here, the building celebrates vertical movement providing sculptural visual interest from all viewpoints and allowing views back into the classrooms and labs, truly putting learning on display.

A hands-on clinical training space: students get real-life work experience early in their careers. The facility serves the local community through its clinic and acts as a beacon for the university’s personalized outreach programs within the greater Cincinnati region.

Active learning spaces like a nutrition lab and gait lab: these spaces were planned into the building to build industry partnerships and community connections. Similar transparent work areas throughout remind visitors of the program’s mission of service and active learning.

Insulated precast wall panels, structural thermal isolators, and double layer slabs: these strategies help the building meet energy goals and achieve structural feats while maintaining the monolithic appearance of an exposed concrete building.

Health Sciences Building at the University of Cincinnati

Health Sciences Building at the University of Cincinnati

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of Spaces4Learning.

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