Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University
Large Project (over 25,000 sf)
Nashville's first new medical school since 1876, the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine, offers inter-professional education, enhancing the campus health and wellness corridor.
Awards Year | 2024
Project Statement
The 198,000-square-foot facility is designed to nurture a holistic interdisciplinary learning atmosphere, fostering collaboration between present students and future medical practitioners, mirroring authentic clinical settings. Notably, the building's design paralleled curriculum development—an uncommon approach—permitting real-time adjustments to meet educational requirements.
The third and fourth floor of the Frist College of Medicine is home to the 65,000-sqaure-foot Center for Interprofessional Engagement and Simulation. The state-of-the-art facility offers a dynamic environment where students come together to learn, practice and refine their skills in a realistic setting. One of the largest of its kind in the nation, the Center features cutting edge equipment, technologies and resources to provide students with interdisciplinary experiential learning. It features a series of immersive technology, skills, assessment and apartment labs; fully simulated hospital rooms with debrief spaces; a preparation clinic suite; and inpatient and community pharmacies.
To address requirements comprehensively, extensive planning sessions were held throughout the design process. These sessions included workshops where faculty and staff from various disciplines met separately to outline their specific needs before converging to identify shared requirements. This collaborative approach facilitated alignment between the building's design and educational necessities. For example, recognizing the significance of interprofessional training, an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) lab, initially not thought to be needed, was added after thorough consideration. Detailed deliberations helped pinpoint the essential spaces, achieving a delicate balance between adequacy and efficiency in the design. Scheduling analysis, similar to that used in healthcare space planning, informed decisions regarding the necessary number of bed spaces and labs within the interprofessional simulation center. Additionally, benchmarking and other informational resources informed and enriched the design process.
The design process emphasized professional student needs, acknowledging that these students spend extensive hours in the building. As a result, our team created various types of spaces, including respite areas, activity zones, and different study environments to accommodate group and individual work. The facility offers diverse study spaces, such as open tables in a coffee shop style and dedicated rooms that can be scheduled in advance. For the medical school, specific requirements include a student lounge with gaming, a pool table, a TV relaxation zone, a kitchen area, and access to outdoor and natural spaces. Insights from medical school curriculum development were also integrated. The collaborative efforts and insights from industry trends aimed to enhance both the educational and user experience of the facility.
Framework for Design Excellence Narrative
**Integration**
The Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine exemplifies architectural integration at multiple levels. Situated within the Belmont University campus, the design harmonizes with the existing architectural language while introducing contemporary elements that reflect the institution's forward-looking vision. The building's form and materials complement adjacent structures, creating a cohesive campus identity. The building's exterior design continues the traditional limestone and granite material pallet found on the edge of Belmont's campus, aligning with other university structures. Internally, the design emphasizes student-friendly, lively, and light-filled spaces, reflecting a shift from the more formal designs of previous buildings.
The interior of the Thomas F. Frist, Jr., College of Medicine is designed with a sleek, contemporary, and comfortable aesthetic, embodying a modern style that complements the campus, but adds a new level of student-focused design. Reflecting the limestone exterior, the interior design brings the natural stone inside, providing a cohesive transition from the exterior to the interior. The color palette predominantly features Belmont's signature blue, with accents of grey and white.
The integration of advanced technology within the building’s infrastructure supports both educational and operational excellence. Classrooms and laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art technology that adapts to evolving pedagogical needs. Sustainable design practices, including energy-efficient systems and the use of locally sourced materials, further enhance the building’s integration into the local environment. Metrics such as energy consumption reduction and percentage of locally sourced materials, underscore the project's success in achieving holistic integration.
**Equitable Communities**
Thomas F. Frist, Jr., College of Medicine is committed to fostering equitable communities through its inclusive design and community engagement efforts. The building is designed with universal accessibility in mind, allowing all students, faculty, and visitors to navigate the space with ease. Features such as wide corridors, accessible entrances, and clear wayfinding enhance the inclusivity of the environment.
The college actively engages with the surrounding Nashville community, with educational programs that benefit a diverse population being planned. Partnerships with local organizations and initiatives to recruit students from underrepresented backgrounds further the college’s mission of promoting diversity and inclusion. The project’s success in fostering equitable communities is reflected in metrics such as the percentage of accessible spaces, diversity statistics within the student body, and the number of community outreach programs.
**Well-Being**
Well-being is at the heart of the design for The Frist College of Medicine. The building incorporates natural light, green spaces, and indoor air quality strategies that create an environment conducive to health and wellness. Large windows provide ample daylight and views of the surrounding landscape, reducing stress and enhancing the overall mood of occupants.
The design includes wellness facilities, such as quiet study areas, meditation rooms, and fitness spaces, that support the mental and physical well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Metrics such as indoor air quality measurements, the ratio of green space per occupant, and post-occupancy surveys demonstrating high satisfaction with the building’s wellness features underscore the project's commitment to well-being.
The Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine stands as a model for future educational facilities, where integration, equitable communities and well-being are seamlessly woven into the fabric of the design. The project not only meets but exceeds the standards set by the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, providing a dynamic and inclusive environment that nurtures the next generation of healthcare professionals.
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LEED/Green Certifications
Photo Captions
2 - The facility fosters collaboration between current students and future MDs, simulating real-world clinical environments. The simulation center bridges public spaces and dedicated medical education floors, enhancing experiential learning.
3 - Traditional architecture meets contemporary interior design.
4 - Flexible spaces support a range of activities, from casual open tables to private study rooms, while a student lounge with gaming, a kitchen, and outdoor access provides a perfect balance between work and relaxation.
5 - Flexible design supports both large lectures and small group collaboration, enhancing interactive learning.
6 - Interprofessional Engagement and Simulation – A 60,000-square-foot hub for immersive, collaborative training across multiple healthcare disciplines
7 - Eight simulation rooms designed to replicate traditional inpatient environments, with five single-bed rooms and three multi-patient rooms.
8 - A 12-bed health assessment lab: A dedicated space for hands-on patient evaluations and diagnostic procedures, featuring multimedia resources and video capture technology for enhanced learning and reflection.
9 - Skills Lab: Featuring eight-bed labs with simulation manikins, task trainers, and virtual reality, this space offers realistic medical scenarios, standardized patient interactions, and video recording for effective learning and feedback.
10 - Anatomy Lab
11 - There are 24 exam rooms specifically designed for training health profession students.
12 - Exam Room Corridor and Standardized Patient Lounge equipped with OSCE testing stations and a dedicated lounge, this space supports comprehensive patient assessment and preparation.
13 - Apartment Lab – A simulated home environment designed for versatile training in residential care, featuring living spaces, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Adjacent control room with observation windows and video capture technology ensures effective, real-time feedback and analysis.
14 - Inpatient pharmacy simulation space and community pharmacy simulation space.
15 - An inviting and modern entryway that sets the tone for interdisciplinary collaboration and learning.
