Perkins&Will to design new gateway building for the University of British Columbia

Perkins&Will, in collaboration with Schmidt Hammer Lassen, will design the new health science and research building at the entrance to the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus.

The 270,000-sf gateway building will co-locate the School of Nursing, the School of Kinesiology, Integrated Student Health Services, and components of UBC Health and Language Sciences. It will include a mix of spaces ranging from wet and dry labs, clinical spaces, lecture theatre and classrooms, gym and fitness facilities, and office and administrative functions.

The building will feature clear and accessible circulation paths, inclusive washrooms and change rooms, and comfortable and inviting spaces that incorporate natural materials. A large public plaza and landscaping will invite people into the public space that flows throughout the building.

A central daylight-filled, six-story atrium with large interconnecting stairs reaching form the basement to the upper floors will encourage physical activity. The atrium’s open layout and visible central spaces will help to foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, windows on the ground floor will provide a connection to the landscaped outdoor environment.

The project will also acknowledge the host nation’s past and current presence and serves as a catalyst and model for future Musqueam engagement on campus. The building will express commonalities between Musqueam values, culture, and learning as well as take inspiration from traditional Musqueam building materials and design.

The project is targeting LEED v4 Gold certification with the design team proposing to use exposed mass timber for the building’s structure. The project is slated for completion in 2024.