The California University of Science and Medicine, located in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles, has recently completed its new School of Medicine. The project is the first building and anchor of the university’s new Colton campus. HMC and SmithGroup collaborated on the project.
The three-story, 85,000-sf project features ample use of glass that allows natural light to flow through the building and create visual connections to nature. A two-story window overlooks the plaza and glass curtainwalls running the full height of the building in all four corner stairwells further this connection and create a lantern effect when illuminated at night.
Included in the School of medicine are lab and active learning classrooms; four simulation rooms, including an operating room; a standardized patient training suite; and multi-media systems that allow sessions with visiting speakers and prominent faculty to be recorded and streamed to other areas of the building.
A large plaza in front of the building connects to the Arrowhead Medical Center and fosters interaction between medical students and health practitioners. Two lecture halls open on to the plaza, which features ample seating, a shady tree grove, and a water feature to create pleasant study areas for study, socialization, and relaxation. The space can also host graduation ceremonies and other events.
HMC and SmithGroup’s design-build plan saved substantial time and money. The plan took cues from commercial building project and using a tilt-up concrete construction system and finishes that are more typically associated with office buildings. The project was completed nine months ahead of schedule and $1.5 million under budget.
Related Stories
University Buildings | Aug 16, 2016
New images of Rice University’s Moody Center for the Arts revealed by Michael Maltzan Architecture
The arts center will foster creativity for making and presenting works across all disciplines
| Aug 10, 2016
UNIVERSITY GIANTS: Facing money woes, the nation's colleges double down on innovative ideas
Budget constraints are compelling some public institutions to pursue alternative methods of financing their major building projects.
| Aug 9, 2016
Top 70 University Engineering Firms
AECOM, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, and Jacobs top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest university sector engineering and E/A firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 9, 2016
Top 100 University Construction Firms
Turner Construction Co., The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co, and Skanska USA top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest university sector construction and construction management firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 9, 2016
Top 100 University Architecture Firms
Gensler, Perkins+Will, and CannonDesign top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest university sector architecture and A/E firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
University Buildings | Aug 5, 2016
How to design the best dining facilities for Millennial students
Location, visibility, and adaptability are three important ideas to keep in mind when designing campus dining spaces, writes Gresham Smith and Partners’ Patrick Gilbert.
University Buildings | Jul 22, 2016
Fast-growing UC Merced will double in size by 2020
The state’s Board of Regents has approved a $1.34 billion plan that would add nearly 1.2 million sf of new space.
University Buildings | Jul 6, 2016
University housing of the future will blend life and study
Universities across the country are striving to meet the demand of on-campus housing. VOA's Steve Siegle examines what students and universities desire in campus living, and how designers can respond.
University Buildings | Jun 13, 2016
Renovated Drexel University academic building will welcome students with front porch
A large screen sets a living room vibe for the Philadelphia academic building. Plans call for 9,000 sf of common space on the inside and a new quad on the outside.
University Buildings | Jun 13, 2016
Universities infuse tech features into learning, living, and shopping spaces
Virtual learning rooms, gaming stations, and self-check-out kiosks are among the perks—and necessities—that have all become commonplace in college campus design.
