Stanford University School of Medicine’s new Center for Academic Medicine is a U-shaped, four-story building encompassing 170,000 square feet atop a three-story subterranean parking structure.
HOK designed the Center to provide respite for staff that work long hours in hospitals and clinics. It also accommodates their academic and research endeavors.
The building massing serves as a threshold between the Stanford Medicine academic and clinical campus in Palo Alto and the adjacent arboretum. Three narrow, interconnected office wings rise above a central courtyard, maximizing daylight offering views to nature from all vantage points.
HOK’s structural design supports the architectural vision while meeting Stanford’s rigorous seismic safety performance objectives. Structural features include using the latest design advances to meet seismic demands surpassing code-required performance, carefully coordinated buckling restrained braced frames, cantilevered roof trusses, two pedestrian bridges overlooking the courtyard and a heavily landscaped at-grade level.
“I would like to thank the Stanford School of Medicine for their commitment to great architecture, their commitment to the health and well-being of the people who would be occupying this building and their commitment to great infrastructure,” said Claire Moore, PE, SE, LEED AP BD+C, engineering practice leader in HOK’s San Francisco studio, in NCSEA’s awards presentation.
In addition to structural and MEP engineering, HOK provided architecture, interiors, landscape architecture, planning, sustainable design, energy modeling and workplace consulting services for the Center.
This is the fourth straight year HOK has won an NCSEA Excellence in Structural Engineering Award. Previous winners have included the Pedestrian Bridge at LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B (2020), the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Modernization (2019) and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium Halo Board (2018). Projects are judged on innovative design, engineering achievement and creativity.
More from Author
HOK | Oct 18, 2024
7 design lessons for future-proofing academic medical centers
HOK’s Paul Strohm and Scott Rawlings and Indiana University Health’s Jim Mladucky share strategies for planning and designing academic medical centers that remain impactful for generations to come.
HOK | Aug 8, 2024
6 design trends for the legal workplace
Law firms differ from many professional organizations in their need for private offices to meet confidentiality with clients and write and review legal documents in quiet, focused environments
HOK | Jun 6, 2024
HOK presents neurodiversity research and design guidelines at SXSW 2024
Workplace experts share insights on designing inclusive spaces that cater to diverse sensory processing needs.
HOK | Apr 2, 2024
How university rec centers are evolving to support wellbeing
In a LinkedIn Live, Recreation & Wellbeing’s Sadat Khan and Abby Diehl joined HOK architect Emily Ostertag to discuss the growing trend to design and program rec centers to support mental wellbeing and holistic health.
HOK | Jan 25, 2024
40 Under 40 Class of 2023 winner Kimberly Dowdell inaugurated as AIA 2024 President
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced the inauguration of Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Principal and Director of Strategic Relationships at HOK and BD+C 40 Under 40 superstar, as its 100th president.
HOK | Jul 13, 2023
Deep green retrofits: Updating old buildings to new sustainability standards
HOK’s David Weatherhead and Atenor’s Eoin Conroy discuss the challenges and opportunities of refurbishing old buildings to meet modern-day sustainability standards.
HOK | Jun 5, 2023
Office design in the era of Gen Z, AI, and the metaverse
HOK workplace and interior design experts Kay Sargent and Tom Polucci share how the hybrid office is evolving in the era of artificial intelligence, Gen Z, and the metaverse.
HOK | May 5, 2023
9 workplace design trends for 2023
HOK Director of WorkPlace Kay Sargent and Director of Interiors Tom Polucci discuss the trends shaping office design in 2023.
HOK | Apr 4, 2023
6 examples of modern college training facilities
HOK discusses the future of college training facilities, with six design takeaways derived from a discussion between Dan Radakovich, Director of Athletics at the University of Miami, and Trevor Bechtold, Director, HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice.
HOK | Feb 23, 2023
Using data to design the sports venue of the future
Former video game developer Abe Stein and HOK's Bill Johnson discuss how to use data to design stadiums and arenas that keep fans engaged and eager to return.
