The groundbreaking Health Sciences Innovation Building (HSIB) at the University of Arizona, Tucson transcends established norms in health sciences education with a holistic, innovative and community-based approach.
HSIB reimagines curriculum and pedagogy to reflect healthcare’s trend towards multidisciplinary and team-based patient care. In a state-of-the-art, interprofessional facility, it creates a campus community hub focused on supporting schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health.
Envisioned as a flexible building to accommodate future curricular evolution and innovation, this 22,947sq m project is conceived in defined layers – the “Loft” and “Porch”. The Loft, with its uninterrupted long-span structure, is the academic engine, housing learning spaces including two mega learning studios, a versatile “Simulation Deck”, research labs and makerspaces as well as a multi-functional Forum. Augmenting the Loft is the terracotta-clad Porch, a vertical community space and the physical manifestation of social, inter- and trans- disciplinary learning – an academic and community incubator.
Each facade of HSIB represents a distinct expression of function and climate in both composition and materiality. The east-facing Porch connects to the campus’ predominantly brick aesthetic by introducing terracotta, and as a dynamic destination for synergy and collaboration.
With limited north-south exposure, the Loft elevation maximizes glass to harness daylight and divulge the 90-foot, column-free structure. Lastly, the folded, perforated metal West facade laminates the utilitarian infrastructure of shafts and risers to the building between concrete stair and elevator enclosures, reducing glazed apertures and minimizing heat gain and direct solar exposure.
University of Arizona Health Sciences Innovation Building from CO Architects on Vimeo.
All the information about how to enter the 2020 WAN Awards is here.
We are very happy to offer support so please don’t hesitate to email Georgia, WAN Awards Event Coordinator with any questions at Georgia.Baily@haymarket.com.
Last year more than 40 countries took part in the WAN Awards with strong showings from Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. And we saw some truly outstanding projects, take a look at the winners from last year here.