This project’s program called for medical office space, parking space, commercial/retail space as well as an array of public/lobby spaces. First floor of this high rise medical office houses main lobby, drive through area designated for patient drop off and pick up, restaurant and future retail spaces. Second floor is the main transportation hub connecting this building with its neighbors across the street through two pedestrian bridges. Design idea was strongly influenced by desire to maintain neighboring area’s tradition of late gothic architecture. Verticality of this building is articulated by use of architectural precast panels in combination with glazing. Programmatic changes in the building’s vertical rise are expressed through offset boxes that slide in and out with changing program. My tasks on the project included design, detailing, systems coordination and BIM management. I have also prepared presentation documentation and architectural visualization.
Hospital Concept:
Conceptually this hospital is a response to the context that it is located in. Use of architectural precast concrete was intended to unify the building with the remaining structures on this medical campus. Its offsetting boxes are shifting according to internal changes in anticipated program as well as in relation to neighboring buildings. Idea of a drive through with designated patient drop off was to ensure maximum safety and comfort for patients. This building is offset from its site edges as to allow retail spaces to bleed onto the streetscape and create a more community friendly building. It was also another implementation of Cannnon Design’s universal grid for healthcare facilities. At the moment of design there were only handful of tenants so entire building is designed on a universal grid that will fit any health provider’s needs.
BIM Process:
Being a young designer on a large project like that and working in a fully integrated environment was a great experience. From the beginning project team worked together in the same office with contractor, engineers and owners. BIM was used for efficient exchange of information, coordination and further for construction scheduling and pricing. This fully integrated BIM Process won an AIA’s Delivery Innovation Award. I would also like to mention here Sarah Plum, Jim Skalla and Mike Yoshimura. They were respectively my BIM Manager, Project Architect and Project Manager, but most of all they were all great mentors and friends making this project one of the best learning experiences of my career.
