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Secchia Center

Published 11/13/2012
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The Secchia Center, the new home of Michigan State University's expanded College of Human Medicine and the cornerstone for life sciences in West Michigan, is expected to increase enrollment to 800 students in 2014. Its establishment in Grand Rapids serves the needs of MSU CHM students and collaborative initiatives with the College's health partners.

The building design integrates a sustainable approach in the development of the site, the center’s architectural quality, and the health of the interior environment. With LEED Gold certification, the energy performance of the building is projected to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 883 tons annually as compared with a baseline model. The 27-by-27-foot building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glass of the eighth-floor Conservatory skylight provides power to all the occupied space on that floor; the system supplies unused power to the electrical grid.

The Secchia Center was constructed atop an existing five-story parking garage at the western end of the “medical mile,” a group of healthcare and biomedical research facilities including Spectrum Health and the Van Andel Institute, in downtown Grand Rapids.  

The new building includes all the program components for medical education: problem-based learning seminar rooms, large and medium-sized case method and traditional tiered lecture halls equipped for synchronous (distance) learning, flexible classrooms, virtual microscopy lab, anatomy lab for prosected cadavers, prosection lab, plastination lab for small organs and parts, flexible general and specialized simulation rooms, standardized patient-based clinical skills suite equipped with recording and playback audio-visual technology, collaborative and quiet study spaces, student lounge and locker area, and a full complement of administrative offices.

The four-story atrium, functioning as the center of the building, doubles as break-out space for the two large lecture halls on the first level.

Organization Project Role
Ellenzweig
Architect - Design
URS Corporation
Architect of Record
The Christman Company
Builder
Acoustics by Design
Consultant - Accoustical
URS Corporation
Consultant - Civil
Vermeulens
Consultant - Cost Analysis
MoharDesign
Consultant - Furniture
URS Corporation
Consultant - Landscape Architect
URS Corporation
Consultant - LEED
Lam Partners Inc.
Consultant - Lighting
Ellenzweig
Consultant - Medical Education Planner
URS Corporation
Consultant - MEP Engineer
URS Corporation
Consultant - Structural
Andover Controls
Supplier - Access System
Armstrong World Industries
Supplier - Accoustical Ceiling Tile
York International
Supplier - Air Handlers
Echo Etching
Supplier - Art Glass
inplainsight art
Supplier - Art Tile
Johnson Controls Inc.
Supplier - Building Automation Controls
SCHOTT Solar
Supplier - Building Integrated Photovoltaic Glass
Atlas Carpet Mills
Supplier - Carpet
Rockcast of Reading
Supplier - Cast Stone
Window and Solar Shade systems
Supplier - Curtainwall
Otis Elevator
Supplier - Elevators
PPG Solarban 70XL
Supplier - Exterior Glazing
Phoenix Controls
Supplier - Fume Hood Controls
Steelcase Corporate Industries
Supplier - Furniture
Mortech
Supplier - Laboratory Equipment
Lutron Quantum System
Supplier - Lighting Controls
Skytron
Supplier - Operating Room Booms
STON-KER Ferroker by Porcelanosa
Supplier - Porcelain Ceramic Tile Walls