USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

6

SHOWCASE

Renovation is the Best Medicine

USF Health Morsani College of Medicine GRESHAM, SMITH AND PARTNERS

USF HEALTH MORSANI COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

is the best

Medicine

One of the graduate schools of the University of South Florida’s USF Health conglomerate, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine has played a leading role in changing how medical schools teach physicians of the future. Nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum, the college enrolled its charter class in 1971.

Limited in terms of teaching space, gathering areas and layout, the College’s circa 1970s buildings struck a sharp contrast to its progressive doctrine. Eager to create a highly functional new environment for its renowned medical program, USF Health selected GS&P to transform three separate campus buildings into vibrant and engaging spaces for learning and teaching.

From the finishes to the layouts, everything was extremely outdated in the existing buildings,” says Lauren LOCATION Rasys, GS&P interior designer and Tampa, Florida project coordinator. “The buildings themselves were also very old, so MARKET we had to deal with low ceilings and poor lighting, as well as HVAC and Healthcare mechanical problems. But the overall layout of each building ultimately SERVICES gave us some freedom to work with.”

Architecture Covering more than 25,000 Civil Engineering square feet, the wide-ranging project Construction Administration involved the renovation of multiple Construction Documents spaces within the College, including Furniture extensive upgrades to the existing auGeneral Contractor ditorium; the conversion of lab space Interior Design into functional teaching classrooms; MEP the creation of interaction areas and Structural Engineering lounge spaces for students; and restroom upgrades. GS&P’s scope of work also encompassed a compreTEAM hensive wayfinding approach and PIC Jeff Talka, AIA a design that would incorporate PM, ID Jacqueline Russo, IIDA, LEED AP branding and a new image into the PC Lauren Rasys, IIDA renovated buildings.

PD Catherine Grimm, IIDA, LEED AP Principal goals for the project included providing highly adaptable spaces that could easily transform from lecture mode to collaboration mode, and improved comfort within the classrooms to enhance performance and interaction among students and staff. Another key objective was incorporating technology that “We are thrilled that the supported a varenovations have created not riety of tools that students use with only a dynamic, high-energy in today’s learning environment that will attract the environment.

“One of USF best-of-the-best medical students, Health’s primary but also a facility that supports focus areas was the inclusion of the emerging, cutting-edge technology,” says technologies of modern Rasys, “and there was no technology medical education.” in the auditorium whatsoever. It was —Stan Douglas, USF Morsani College of very 1970s and so Medicine Assistant Vice President CLIENT

The University of South Florida Health

out-of-date that the entire building required a complete gut and renovation before we could even think about anything else.”

In need of an extreme makeover, the College’s auditorium and its steeply sloped floor was one of the first areas to be addressed.

“The auditorium’s floor was previously ramped, so we replaced it with a more functional, multitiered approach,” says Rasys. “The building can now be set up as one massive lecture hall or divided into classrooms by using separation walls that automatically descend from the ceiling. The benefit of using tiered flooring, as opposed to keeping the existing slanted floor, is that it stops the separation walls at specific levels and helps separate each classroom.”

In addition to the tiered flooring and descending partitions, the auditorium’s demonstration area was in-filled to create a platform to replace an impractical existing pit that was previously used for teaching.

These innovative adaptations allow for better sight lines and easier access for learning and teaching.

“It was extremely important to USF Health that we improve student engagement by providing those clear sight lines,” stresses Rasys.

“Students can now clearly see who’s speaking, which automatically helps them stay involved. The auditorium is also set up for distancing learning, so not only can a guest speaker be seen on-screen at other campuses, but they can see the students as well.

We wanted to incorporate as much interactive and distance learning into the auditorium as possible, and we worked closely with an AV consultant to make this happen.”

Power and data were also integrated into the auditorium’s table tops, as well as microphones that allow students’ questions to be clearly heard, even from the back of the auditorium.

The flexibility of the classrooms was achieved through tremendous research. This installation of operable partitions, which descend from the ceiling, is the longest length that the manufacturer has completed to date.

U S F H E A LT H M O R S A N I C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E

The setting can be used as a single lecture hall or subdivided into five separate classrooms depending on the teaching method.

SHOWCASE SIX

CREATING FLEXIBLE AND HIGH-TECH SPACES Also in need of a comprehensive overhaul was the College’s Group Learning department.

“The classrooms in Group Learning were originally set up in a lab-type atmosphere so they were very sterile,” says Rasys. “To maximize flexibility within the existing footprint, we took out every wall in that space and added operable partitions that divide a large space into smaller classrooms.

Basically, one half of Group Learning has large classroom setups with partitions. The other half features very intimate classrooms that can be used for smaller classes or study groups.”

Spaces need to be diverse to accommodate various teaching and learning styles.

The classrooms were designed to maximize flexibility within the existing footprint by utilizing operable partitions.

Mobile, ergonomic seating was utilized throughout the classrooms in order to minimize pressure points, support posture and promote student interaction. Tables that can easily be moved and rearranged were also used to maximize flexibility and support various learning and teaching styles.

In between the classrooms, dynamic huddle and casual meeting spaces were incorporated into the design, allowing impromptu collaboration and study.

“The collaborative meeting spaces feature vibrant lounge furniture, and each meeting area is completely different,” says Rasys. “Some areas

feature bench-style seating. Other spaces include colorful tables and chairs.”

Further improving the use of campus real estate, the GS&P team devised a design solution to turn lab space into high-tech classrooms featuring audio-visual equipment, computers and flat-screen televisions.

“The anatomy lab space needed a major facelift,” says Rasys. “There’s only so much you can do with a sterile environment like that. But we added color to the walls and the floors and greatly increased the technology in there, which makes it extremely different from the old lab setup.

Energy-efficient lighting creates a bright, natural environment.

Can you find the differences between these two spaces?

To maximize flexibility, all walls were removed and operable partitions that divide the space into smaller classrooms were installed.

SHOWCASE SIX

The floors include vivid, energetic colors, and the layout facilitates interaction of all student areas.

“In the new space, there’s a camera above the instructor who’s using a cadaver to teach the students. This not only gives the students the opportunity to view the procedure on flatscreen TVs, but it also allows them to remain at their tables with their own cadavers, keeping the learning experience as interactive and handson as possible.”

Another of USF Health’s primary goals was the seamless incorporation of its logo throughout the interior environments to reinforce the school’s branding and identity.

“That was the fun part of the design,” says Rasys. “We came up with several different concepts on how best to feature their logo, and ultimately decided to incorporate it throughout the glass and wall graphics.”

The team also designed a complete wayfinding system that included directional and informational signage and graphics. Crisp patterns, oversized graphics and vibrant colors were used to motivate students to connect and get inspired.

U S F H E A LT H M O R S A N I C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E

Comfortable students are engaged students. Classrooms were built to maximize flexibility and interaction.

The team designed dynamic huddle and casual meeting spaces throughout the Group Learning facility. These spaces allow impromptu collaboration and optional study environments.

U S F H E A LT H M O R S A N I C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E

SHOWCASE SIX

“We’ve created a fun, comfortable and functional environment for students and teachers alike,” says Jacqui Russo, GS&P senior interior designer and principal of the corporate design team in Tampa. “It’s also a more supportive environment that makes everybody feel a little bit more special and more encouraged to collaborate because they’re in a creative environment. It’s a bonus for the instruc“We’ve created a fun, tors, too, because it gives them a fresh start with comfortable and their students in a new functional environsetting that’s not drab or outdated.” ment for students

and teachers alike.”

Once in dire need of func—Jacqui Russo tional and aesthetic upgrades, the newly renovated USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is now set to attract the world’s best medical students. With a vastly improved image that fully represents the national stature of its medical program, the College can proudly boast a world-class facility to host its world-class program.

“The College’s previous facilities had a vintage 1970s look and clear limitations,” says Stan Douglas, assistant vice president of operations and facilities management for USF Health. “We are thrilled that the renovations have not only created a dynamic, high-energy environment that will attract the best-of-the-best medical students, but also, a facility that supports the emerging, cutting-edge technologies of modern medical education.”▪

Crisp patterns, oversized graphics and vibrant colors were used to motivate students to connect and get inspired.

ABOUT US

Gresham, Smith and Partners provides design and consulting solutions for the built environment that contribute to the success of national and international clients. For more than  years, GS&P has focused on enhancing quality of life and sustainability within our communities. GS&P consists of industry-leading professionals practicing architecture and engineering design as well as scientists and highly specialized strategic and management consultants in Aviation, Corporate and Urban Design, Environmental Services, Federal, Healthcare, Industrial, Land Planning, Transportation and Water Resources. GS&P consistently ranks among the top architecture and engineering firms in the world.

ARCHITECTURE

ENGINEERING

INTERIORS

www.greshamsmith.com showcase.greshamsmith.com

PLANNING