uta college of nursing
smart hospital

client: UTA College of Nursing represented by Tiffany Holmes, D.C.

location: 485 S. Nedderman Dr. Arlington, TX

area: 84,250 sq ft

estimated cost: $170/sq ft

The Smart Hospital program of UTA is a simulation center that allows healthcare students and professionals to train in multiple diverse medical situations. This design provides a new facility for the expanding program and is located beside the current College of Nursing building. The space program for this project was developed by the architectural firm HKS and includes student areas, faculty offices, and over eight medical departments.

The amenities of this project meet those of a general hospital, while the layout differs due to the unique educational function. The design strategy first began by addressing the university’s concern regarding security for the building. The medical equipment and simulation mannequins located within the medical departments are expensive and require controlled maintenance and monitored access. The design strategy breaks the medical departments into individual areas by locating student lounges and debriefing rooms in between the secure zones. Groups can then congregate outside the department they will be training in, before and after the simulation, and await the training instructor who will grant access to medical department that will be in use. This strategy correlates with the educational function as groups interact with only one department at a time. Within the medical departments, patient rooms, nursing stations, and medical areas follow the organization standards and flow guidelines of healthcare design. Additionally, the departments are arranged around a master control room, from which instructors manage the environment and simulation mannequins while observing and documenting the progress of each simulation through multimedia equipment.

The construction scheme for the Smart Hospital is based on a set column grid and standardized building techniques in order to maintain low building costs. The elevations are composed of materials chosen from current buildings on the UTA campus, relating the Smart Hospital back to the university, while including an innovative approach for solar heat management on the western facade. Lastly, the landscaped area surrounding the building provides students with multiple spaces to commute through and enjoy, enhancing the atmosphere of campus.

Selected by review panel - Team project