In Phoenix, the Arizona State University (ASU) has constructed its Health Futures Center—expanding the school’s impact as a research institution emphasizing medical technology acceleration and innovation, entrepreneurship, and healthcare education.
Designed by CO Architects in collaboration with DFDG Architecture, the ASU Health Futures Center is a multidisciplinary home for medical tech innovation, research, education, and conferencing. CO designed the building to allow spaces to function in multiple ways, encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations. It’s located on a newly developed site for the university’s growing biotech presence near the Mayo Clinic Phoenix.
The Health Futures Center is the first building to be constructed as part of the almost 20-year Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University Alliance for Health Care collaboration. CO master-planned the new 24-acre campus on previously undeveloped desert land, then programmed and designed the three-story facility for ASU’s College of Health Solutions, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, and Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, as well as shared programs with Mayo Clinic.
The $80 million, 145,200-square-foot building includes research laboratories, simulation suites, workspaces, and instructional rooms. The light ecru exterior was designed for the desert heat, with windows angled to face northward on both the east and west facades, minimizing solar heat gain. The center offers views of the McDowell Mountains to the east and central Phoenix to the south.
The building’s conference center features a double-height auditorium with 278 fixed seats arranged in a circular configuration, with the capacity for up to 320 in an in-the-round configuration. Audio, video, and lighting elements allow patrons to view dynamic visual presentations from wherever they’re seated.
On the building team:
Owner: Arizona State University
Design architect: CO Architects
Architect of record and executive architect: DFDG Architecture
MEP engineer: Affiliated Engineers (AEI)
Structural engineer: Advances Structural Engineering
General contractor/construction manager: DPR Construction
![ASU Health Futures Center int](/sites/default/files/inline-images/ASU%20Health%20Fututres%20Center%20int.jpg)
![ASU Health Futures Center patient](/sites/default/files/inline-images/ASU%20Health%20Futures%20Center%20patient%20.jpg)
![ASU Health Center Futures meeting](/sites/default/files/inline-images/ASU%20Health%20Center%20Futures%20meeting.jpg)
Related Stories
Adaptive Reuse | Apr 7, 2016
Redevelopment plan announced for Chicago’s historic Cook County Hospital
The century-old, Beaux Arts architecture-inspired hospital will transform into a mixed-use development.
Industry Research | Apr 7, 2016
CBRE provides latest insight into healthcare real estate investors’ strategies
Survey respondents are targeting smaller acquisitions, at a time when market cap rates are narrowing for different product types.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 11, 2016
Report: Hospitals’ fossil fuel use trending downward, but electricity consumption hardly declining
A new survey from engineering firm Grumman/Butkus Associates examines electricity, fossil fuel, water/sewer, and carbon footprint of healthcare facilities.
Office Buildings | Mar 9, 2016
CBRE: Workplace wellness on the rise
As insurance premiums and deductibles continue to rise, both employees and employers are evaluating options to improve their wellbeing, writes CBRE Healthcare Managing Director Craig Beam.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 7, 2016
Can 'active' building designs make people healthier?
The new high-performance Kaiser Permanente facility in Anne Arundel County, Md., uses the built environment to improve the overall health of its occupants, writes GS&P's Terrance Perdue.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 4, 2016
Building a home where Alzheimer’s patients can thrive
Skanska recently completed Abe’s Garden in Nashville, Tenn., a memory care community designed to improve the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Skanska's Senior Project Manager Jeff Elpers has more on the facility.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 1, 2016
Christ Hospital in Cincinnati brings its joint and spine care services under one roof
The opening coincides with agreements that make this center a preferred provider for several employers with self-funded healthcare plans.
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 24, 2016
Healthcare providers must retool operations in post-ACA world
As healthcare organizations make the transition from sick care to well care, they’re learning how to stretch their resources and make smarter decisions about real estate.
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 19, 2016
U.S. House moves to give Army Corps of Engineers management of V.A. projects
Bill would also put restrictions on planning and design funding.
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 19, 2016
Early trends in healthcare for 2016
Fighting cancer, Design-Led Construction (DLC), and health sciences education are among the new efforts and developments, writes Cannon Design's Deb Sheehan.