BAP O1 STORY

BAP 01 Story | Los Angeles, CA | SOM Architects

Project Design Team:

Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP | Atelier 10 Contractor: Rudolph & Sletten Design Team: Craig Hartman (Design Partner), Carrie Byles (Managing Partner), Javier Arizmendi (Design Director), Keith Boswell (Technical Partner), Danielle McGuire (Project Manager), Timothy Waters (Senior Technical Coordinator), Miguel Del Olmo Aparici (Architectural Associate), Daniel Kumnick (Architectural Associate), Katarzyna Siedlacka (Architectural Associate), Sally Anderson (Specifications), Peter Cornue (Architectural Associate), Federica Carrara (Architectural Associate), David Loo (Associate Director Interiors), Grace Weng (Architectural Associate), Mark Sarkisian (Structural Director), Neville Mathias (Senior Structural Engineer), John Lyenmann (Engineer), Joanna Zhang (Engineer), Lonny Israel (Associate Director), Nathan Bluestone (Graphic Designer), Pauline Cheng (Graphic Designer) Firm Profile

SOM is a firm based in Chicago since the 1930s, with a wide range of services in architecture, urban planning, and engineering. The UCLA Geffen Medical Center is a 6 story building completed in 2016 as an educational health and science center. SOM has an interdisciplinary team where architects work closely with engineers with emphasis on the environmental and social challenges. This project fits within the Health and Science portfolio evolution by creating an “open” building where the students and public can travel through the building. SOM is successful in incorporating technology and sustainability design, which the medical center achieves. UCLA Geffen Medical Center has received LEED Platinum certification in 2017 with naturally ventilated spaces and environmentally preferred material. Background

Named for entertainment executive and philanthropist David Geffen, the Geffen School of Medicine was able to be built largely due to his massive donations which totalled to $400 million. This massive donation may have provided the means and incentive to construct the building. The intent of the building was described as being to both attract the “best and brightest” students while at the same time allowing the students to explore and carve out unique career paths. For UCLA in general, it serves as the gateway to the campus at the Southeast entrance, and was designed to serve as a symbol for what UCLA had to offer. Because many of the classrooms require a very controlled environment, access to outside views are plentiful and a central atrium along with indoor study areas with floor to ceiling glass allow for areas for students to recharge. UCLA also wanted to have the learning spaces be interactive, rather than rigid and impersonal lecture halls. Another influence in the design was the diversity of people that would be using the space; there would not just be students using the space, but also professionals ranging from nurses to dentists and other public health faculty, graduate students, and regular Med students, making the need for the space to be flexible even greater. While the building was built very recently, it was created with the intent to remain efficient for many years into the future. The lecture halls, auditoriums, and exam rooms were all designed with the potential to be adapted to whatever curricula or technology may be introduced in the future. And at six stories tall with a total of 88,000 square feet, the building provides adequate space for all of its needs. Reflection

At this point in the research, the building appears to be quite sensitive to many relevant social and environmental concerns. The building employs open air circulation in the courtyard, radiant cooling and heating, underfloor air distribution, water efficient fixtures, and a rainwater collection system. Furthermore, it is LEED Platinum certified, the most strict award possible. Also, it looks like proper daylighting strategies were used and any large amounts of exposed glazing were given proper shading. As far as mental health is concerned, the building was designed excellently from that perspective, with lots of access to natural light and moments of open air to provide a respite for students. One thing that I am somewhat skeptical of is how the building responds to the local social environment, and whether it was designed with the intent to respond to the LA residents that live in the area or if it creates an environment only tailored to those connected educationally or professionally with the college.

https://www.theplan.it/eng/award-2018-education/geffen-hall-david-geffen-schoolof-medicine-university-of-california-los-angeles-1 3