foster + partners conceives health education center for cleveland

foster + partners conceives health education center for cleveland | image © MESHROOM

foster + partners has been commissioned to design a health education center in cleveland, ohio, USA, for which renderings have been revealed in light of meetings with the city’s planning department in early december. the project expands the medical campus collaboratively established by case western reserve university (CWRU) and cleveland clinic to include nursing and dental facilities. the envisioned building is intended to encourage team-based learning and working, while also promoting interaction among students and faculty outside the classroom as well.

the building will complement the medical campus with nursing and dental facilities | image © MESHROOM

the new 485,000 square foot building adds to a campus that is aimed at making cleveland a hub for medical education. it combines traditional classrooms and technology-enhanced simulation labs, while including clinical spaces for dentistry. the plan is arranged around a large, skylit central atrium, while its roof expands beyond fully glass curtain walls.

the plan is arranged around a bright central atrium | image courtesy case western reserve university

in regards to the encouragement of interaction among students, CWRU president barbara r. snyder remarks, ‘studies show that team-based health care improves patients’ experiences and results, lowers costs, and increases the job satisfaction of those involved in care. yet most of our education programs still separate the professions throughout students’ academic careers. this project allows us to bring these future health care leaders together from the very start, and to do so in a thoughtful and intentional way.’

the envisioned building is intended to encourage team-based learning and working | image © MESHROOM

in looking towards the future of health care, cleveland clinic president and CEO toby cosgrove, MD, states, ‘health care is in the midst of an unprecedented transformation and is changing how we deliver care to patients and how we get reimbursed for services. the focus is now on quality and outcomes for patients, while moving away from fee for services. this requires a team of providers—with a variety of expertise and experience—working together to care for patients and why an integrated, medical education program is not just important, but essential.’