Overview | The Building Inside & Out, with Video | Education & Research | Construction Progress

Video: Selecting interior finishes

EMVS Expands: 3-D fly in and creative team at work from Eastern Virginia Medical School on Vimeo.

Energy efficiency part of the plan

The new building was designed with energy efficiency in mind. It will be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver standards, an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Even at a glance, the new structure will project an image of energy conservation through the use of sunshades to block sunlight and reduce the amount of cooling needed during the summer. More subtle energy-conscious features include thick insulation, deep vestibules at all entries, high-efficiency glass, a design that makes the most of reflected sunlight to minimize the use of artificial indoor lighting, and a light-colored roof to reflect rather than absorb heat from the sun.

These measures and others will help the building use 20 percent less energy than if it were built to conventional standards.

On the outside

The new medical education and research building will be a striking new presence on the EVMS campus. With the white cast stone on the exterior matching the materials of the adjacent Brickell library and the brick building elevations blending in seamlessly with the neighboring Jones Institute, the new structure will be a stunning addition to the larger community.

Come on in

The first-floor lobby will have an open feel, thanks to liberal use of glass on the exterior. Stretching the length of one side of the building, the lobby will be a hub of activity, with generous seating and a rich mixture of interior finishes including stone, wood and glass. In addition to serving as the principal entrance, it provides direct access to two ground-floor lecture halls. The hall closest to the front of the building has flexible floor space that can accommodate large gatherings and provides easy access to the lobby, front patio and lawn.

The entire second floor of the building is dedicated to a state-of-the-art clinical skills teaching and assessment facility for medical and health-professions students. It features exam rooms, clinical-skills rooms with an associated observation room, a virtual-reality suite, a professional skills lab, and meeting and office space.

The administrative home of the School of Health Professions will reside on the third floor, along with lecture halls and teaching space. The fourth floor will be home to research labs that will accommodate almost 50 researchers.