School
of Nursing
University
of Maryland, Baltimore
Cost:
$33,500,000
Size:
156,000 sf
Completion:
1999
RCG designed the new seven story, 156,000 sf School of Nursing for University of Maryland to house one of the top-ranked and largest schools of nursing in the nation. This state-of-the-art facility, featuring virtual reality and interactive technology, positions the School as the preeminent high-tech school of nursing in the country.
Located on the upper floors are 32 clinical simulation labs, wet bench labs, distance-learning classrooms and offices. Nearly one-quarter of the building will accommodate the School’s growing research initiatives, providing bench and behavioral research space. Academic departments include outreach programs, international programs, clinical and external affairs, and research-based initiatives. Research centers include the Center for Gerentologic Research and the Center for Occupational & Environmental Nursing Research.
The ground floor of the building provides nearly 17,000 sf of space for conferences and meetings and is unique to the University’s Baltimore campus. The new building is host to University meetings, conferences, banquets, educational programs and receptions. The facility also houses the School’s continuing education program, nurse practitioner clinic and a museum. The double-height lobby is bathed in daylight from the courtyard and connects a 500-seat auditorium and two meeting rooms seating 150 and 75 people respectively. These rooms are designed to be used in conjunction for a large single event or individually for smaller meeting venues. The facility is fully integrated with the latest technology for video conferencing and distant learning education.
Central to the design of this building was complex urban design and campus planning issues. The design is holistically incorporated into the existing campus and includes the design of a courtyard space between the building and the street; one of the few green spaces on this dense urban campus. The courtyard includes a new garden wall, custom-designed lighting, paths, benches and planters and the building’s courtyard facade interweaves motifs and names important to the history of nursing.
