Page 39 - spaces4learning, Fall 2020

together to determine how the facility will handle expected growth — as well as changes impossible to anticipate, like the coronavirus outbreak. “With this building we wanted to create a true sense of place: a permanent yet flexible home for these programs that will
help the department of allied health sciences navigate a rapidly changing industry and world,” says Mark Jolicoeur, managing principal at Perkins and Will. “Being able to provide the architectural design support while quickly adapting to the changing needs required in the face of COVID-19, were key drivers in developing new standards in higher education with this project,” says Vince Terry, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, who serves as regional director for Moody Nolan’s Cincinnati office.
Key design features include:
Interdisciplinary collaboration: glass-walled classrooms and labs feature large, airy breakout areas along adjacent balconies, which provide opportunities for informal discussions and project work.
Bridge like stepped ramps span the atrium to promote wellness: In many older classroom buildings, vertical circulation is handled with simple egress stairs tucked in remote corners, with little to no windows; here, the building celebrates vertical movement providing sculptural visual interest from all viewpoints and allowing views back into the classrooms and labs, truly putting learning on display.
A hands-on clinical training space: students get real-life work experience early in their careers. The facility serves the local community through its clinic and acts as a beacon for the university’s personalized outreach programs within the greater Cincinnati region.
Active learning spaces like a nutrition lab and gait lab: these spaces were planned into the building to build industry partnerships and community connections. Similar transparent work areas throughout remind visitors of the program’s mission of service and active learning.
Insulated precast wall panels, structural thermal isolators, and double layer slabs: these strategies help the building meet energy goals and achieve structural feats while maintaining the monolithic appearance of an exposed concrete building.
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