Academic Medical

A study of three academic medical centers constructed in 2009, 2014, and 2020 reveals little change in the square footage of research spaces over time but a radical change in how the square footage is being used. The result is research space that is more efficient, flexible, adaptable, and functional, with a higher percentage of space dedicated to lab support. The metrics gathered in this study can help guide lab planners as they look to the future.

With active learning classrooms, Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine was presented an opportunity to think differently about how to create spaces that support a different approach to instruction and interaction. Figuring out what works and what doesn’t in terms of acoustics, technology, lighting, and sightlines has demonstrated the importance of aligning the space—and the technology within it—with the pedagogy rather than the reverse.

Michigan Tech opened the H-STEM Engineering and Health Technologies Complex in Houghton in March of 2024. HED designed the collaborative facility to drive academic excellence in health-related fields and accelerate the creation of human-centered technological innovations. Positioned in the heart of campus, the development collocates researchers in materials science, engineering, and neuroscience with faculty from kinesiology and integrative physiology.

Missouri Southern State University broke ground in April of 2024 on the Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center in Joplin. Addressing a critical shortage of skilled health professionals, the $42 million facility will feature technology-enabled environments for immersive learning. A simulation hospital will include examination rooms, an acute care ward, an emergency center, a labor and delivery unit, and a model ambulance. The 65,000-sf building will also accommodate classrooms, offices, research space, and a spacious cadaver lab.

Baylor College of Medicine is constructing the $260 million Lillie and Roy Cullen Tower in Houston. The 503,000-sf facility will strategically collocate the School of Medicine and the School of Health Professions next to the Texas Medical Center’s Helix Park. The technology-rich building will feature studio classrooms, lecture halls, teaching labs, and an expansive atrium that can function as a 500-seat auditorium.

The University of Miami Health System is constructing the $250 million Kenneth C. Griffin Cancer Research Building in Miami. Designed by HOK, the 244,000-sf structure will provide the Miller School of Medicine with flexible laboratories where multidisciplinary teams will discover new modalities for cancer treatment and prevention. The collaborative facility will leverage advanced instrumentation and the latest machine learning technologies to accelerate the translation of scientific breakthroughs into life-saving therapies.

Georgia Tech broke ground in March of 2024 on the Thomas A. Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center in Atlanta. Designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative, the 100,000-sf sports science facility will accommodate strength and conditioning areas, a nutrition center, and clinical settings for both physical and mental health services. A motion-capture lab with advanced instrumentation will feed into an in-house data analytics office.

Dubbed the "tree house," the Stanford Center for Academic Medicine blends into and incorporates its natural surroundings in a design that leaves the occupants feeling better after a full day of work than they felt when they arrived. Amenity spaces, a concierge desk staffed 24/7, small but private offices, and universal access to sunlight all contribute to the popularity of the Center.

The University of California is planning to construct the $300 million Medical Education Building in Merced. Designed by ZGF Architects, the 203,500-sf project will serve as the headquarters for a multicampus career pathway developed in partnership with UC San Francisco and UCSF Fresno. The four-story structure will provide class laboratories, specialized learning venues, general assignment classrooms, clinical practicum spaces, research labs, offices, and a café.

Construction will begin in April of 2024 on the Wichita Biomedical Campus, an innovation hub where academia and industry can engage with clinical partners to create new healthcare solutions. The centerpiece of the project is a 471,000-sf tower designed by CO Architects and Helix Architecture + Design. The first four floors will collocate Wichita State University’s College of Health Professions and Speech-Language Hearing Clinic with WSU Tech’s Health Professions program.

The Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research broke ground in February of 2024 on the AU$55 million Lang AO Medical Research Building - MacArthur. Located next to Campbelltown Hospital, the 63,000-sf project will provide state-of-the-art laboratories for the study of diabetes, pediatrics, addiction, mental illness, and indigenous health, and pediatrics. BVN Architecture’s vision for the translational facility interweaves collaboration spaces and instrumentation suites with flexible, open settings for shared discovery.

Texas A&M University is constructing the $49.9 million Nursing Education and Research Building in McAllen. Designed by Page, the three-story, 61,000-sf facility will address a crucial need for skilled healthcare professionals by improving access to learning opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley. The flexible, technology-enabled structure will provide a 10,000-sf clinical simulation center, four nursing classrooms, and areas for informal interaction and study.

Vincennes University broke ground in February of 2024 on the $34 million Center for Health Sciences and Active Learning. Representing the largest capital project in the school’s history, the 72,000-sf facility will feature multidisciplinary teaching labs for programs in nursing and allied health professions. Clinical simulation suites with high-fidelity manikins and virtual technologies will allow the next generation of caregivers to engage in hands-on training.

Providence Health Care is planning to construct the CAD$638 million Clinical Support and Research Centre in Vancouver. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and Kirsten Reite Architecture, the 370,000-sf facility will collocate world-class research labs with specialty physician practices to accelerate the translation of medical discoveries into solutions for patient care. Collaboration spaces will be intentionally woven throughout the building to promote interdisciplinary exchange between researchers, clinicians, and industry partners.

Berry College will break ground in March of 2024 on the $33.4 million Morgan-Bailey Hall in Mount Berry, Ga. The three-story, 55,000-sf facility will feature sophisticated environments for courses in nursing and kinesiology, as well as supporting a new graduate-level program for physician associates. Offering 36,000 sf of academic space, the interactive structure will include large collaboration areas, as well as rooms where smaller groups can engage in shared exploration.