Designed for nursing education and environmental stewardship
The Cizik School of Nursing and Student Community Center, which opened in 2004, was built specifically for nursing education and research. Its design speaks to the important relationship between the practice of nursing and the built environment in promoting health-centered lives.
Located adjacent to Grant Fay Park (one of the few protected green spaces within the Texas Medical Center), the 194,000-square-foot, eight-story facility includes approximately 20,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms, a 200-seat auditorium, a café and dining room, the PARTNERS Lounge, student government offices, research laboratories, and faculty/administration offices.
Each aspect of the sustainable design promotes health by considering human comfort, indoor air quality, and access to nature. It earned LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2009, as well as several prestigious local, state, and national architectural design awards.
Sustainability aspects of the building include:
- Five unique façades designed with window placement and sun-screening strategies that let in desirable daylight while reducing unwanted heat
- Energy efficiency measures such as under-floor air distribution
- Low-impact resources and building materials, including reclaimed and recycled materials
- Rainwater harvesting for nonpotable uses
The building was designed by BNIM Architects of Kansas City, in collaboration with Lake | Flato Architects in San Antonio and a consultant team encompassing 17 disciplines and specialties.
