University of Virginia Biomedical Engineering & Medical Science Research Building 5, Health Sciences Center
This 150,000 gsf state-of-the-art Medical Research Laboratory is located at the Health Sciences Center in the immediate vicinity of the University Hospital and several other research facilities.
The building provides 78,500 net assignable square feet of laboratories, laboratory support, and medical education spaces for research programs in the areas of Biomedical Engineering, Pathology and Cardiovascular Medicine as well as a Vivarium to support animal research activities.
The design of the new Biomedical Engineering and Medical Science Building recognizes and enhance the diverse character of the East Precinct and surrounding community. This ranges from the near urban density of the Health Sciences Center (i.e., the large volumes of the Hospital, MR-4, Jordan Hall and its addition), to the residential character of the neighborhood to the west as highlighted by the articulated forms of the Maison Francoise. This contrast in scale and activity fosters the opportunity to create a direct and appropriate architectural alignment, utilizing current building technology and materials to achieve the imagery associated with the historical tradition of building fabric on the University. A “front door” to this portion of the campus is created at the west, where McLeod Hall and the new building shares a courtyard entrance facing Jefferson Park Avenue and 15th Street. The courtyard entrance frames a vehicular drop-off. The building walls create an internalized intimate “garden” place for the Health Sciences community, recalling the character of the more private precinct of Jefferson’s original “Academical Village.” This suggests repetitive elements such as white metal windows and trim in a field of red brick. This wall is capped by a metal roof, which is modulated by the vertical stacks made necessary by the intensive mechanical systems but referring to traditional chimney forms.