BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Finalized site plans and exterior design for a new Regional Academic Health Center were approved today by the Indiana University Board of Trustees.
Approval of the site plan and exterior design is one of the first steps for planning and designing a health care facility of this size and complexity. The project team will continue to work through the rigorous process of creating, adjusting and approving each phase of the project.
The 735,000-square-foot complex will house Indiana University Health Bloomington inpatient and outpatient services as well as a 115,000-square-foot academic facility that will be used for health sciences education and research at Indiana University.
The new state-of-the-art facility will bring together multiple medical specialties and outpatient services in one convenient setting. It will also provide a unique and innovation-driven environment in which IU and IU Health can partner to teach future generations of health care professionals.
Indiana limestone, present throughout the university’s Bloomington campus, will be blended with brick highlights – typical in IU Health facilities throughout the state. An abundance of glass will allow for natural light to stream through a multistory atrium and main entry.
The 620,000-square-foot, five-floor medical facility will improve the patient experience, including greater patient privacy through the use of patient transport areas not visible to the general public. The outpatient portion will include a comprehensive cancer center, specialty physician offices, surgical suites, a minor-procedure area and a diagnostic center.
“The design was truly inspired by the caregivers, patients, faculty and students who will use the space,” said Matt Bailey, president of IU Health South Central Region. More than 500 physicians, team members, educators and patients participated in design-planning sessions. “This is an incredible investment in our community, and we wanted to get it right.”
The building is designed to take advantage of the beautiful composition of the grounds. Healing gardens and walking trails will help to provide serenity and opportunities for wellness. The orientation of patient rooms takes full advantage of stunning views of the landscape and ridge of trees. The center will be LEED certified and will be environmentally friendly, incorporating water quality and conservation strategies, energy-efficiency features, sustainable/recycled materials and indoor environment quality amenities.
“The building is complementary in design to some of the newer buildings on our campus, but it also provides us with a unique opportunity, working with IU Health, to create something new and distinctive,” said Tom Morrison, vice president for capital planning and facilities at IU.
Special intent was paid to how students and faculty will interact with providers, nurses and other medical professionals, including the creation of shared spaces.
“The Regional Academic Health Center will considerably expand the opportunities for health sciences education and research for cutting-edge programs in interprofessional education as well as keep up with the increasing demand for practical experience for students in health-related disciplines, especially medicine, social work, nursing, hearing and speech sciences, public health, medical sciences, and dentistry,” Morrison added.
Additional details on the project and downloads of renderings from today’s presentation are available on the IU Health Bloomington website.
