K-12 Education

Education is the best medicine

UNMHSC Domenici Center

The University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences College Domenici Center began in 2001, envisioned as a collaborative health education simulation center for three colleges: the School of Medicine and the Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy.

After completing the Health Sciences College masterplan in UNM’s North Campus, Dekker designed all three stages of the Domenici building. It was constructed over three phases and includes a wide array of functions, including simulation labs, human anatomy lab, problem-based learning labs, café, fitness center, medical/legal bookstore, and 300-seat auditorium.

The Domenici Center successfully contributes to UNM’s vision of a true interdisciplinary medical education center for all their health sciences students. No matter the specialty, what matters most is learning to care for patients.

The three phases of the Domenici center were completed over 17 years. The building was occupied by students and staff during the third phase, which completed the facility and added active learning classrooms for the OT and PT programs, problem-based learning labs, and simulation spaces. Construction was carefully coordinated between the users, contractor, UNM facilities personnel, and design team to ensure as little impact as possible on students and staff.

Sustainability remained a top priority throughout the project’s three phases. Thin-film photovoltaics on the roof provide solar energy and lowers the carbon footprint of the building. Electrochromic glazing on the exterior openings darkens in response to sunlight as it moves throughout the day. This eliminates the need for exterior shading devices or interior blinds and maintains access to sunlight without glare or overheating the interior space. As a result, a more energy-efficient chilled beam mechanical system was able to be chosen. The project achieved LEED Gold certification and adds to UNM’s sustainability initiatives.

Gathering and learning in one place

The Domenici Center is a hub of learning and gathering for UNM’s North Campus. The building includes simulation and assessment spaces for the College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, and the School of Medicine.

Learning spaces are formatted around active-learning curricula, including technology-rich SCALEUP classrooms. Teaching spaces are surrounded by different sized student study and gathering areas. The theme of both the classrooms and gathering spaces is interactive, group-learning – maintaining the discussions begun in one to inform and expand the learning experience in the other.

In addition to teaching spaces, the new addition includes an interactive pharmacy lab, testing center, and labs for physical therapy and occupational therapy. Seminar spaces, student lounges, and a café offer diverse settings for study and collaboration. A clinical performance center provides problem-based testing and evaluation for the three colleges. Though part of the UNM Health Sciences Center, the facility also reaches out to the university at large, providing space for the law school and an auditorium for campus-wide events.

The building’s form completes an internal courtyard and provides and upper deck for students shaded by a classroom cantilevered above. This deck also provides access to a bridge that connects to the first phase of the complex. Outdoor spaces including a courtyard, memorial garden, and xeric garden corridor allow for reflection and connection with nature. The courtyard has become a favorite spot for students to study or meet with friends.

Dekker was honored to work with the UNM Health Sciences College on all three phases of the Domenici Center. We continued our work with UNMHSC on North Campus with the College of Nursing and Public Health Excellence building in 2024. This important addition centralizes classrooms and offices for both colleges, increasing collaboration and capacity to train more healthcare professionals in New Mexico.

This important center of medical education was made possible through the vision and leadership of the UNM Health Sciences Center faculty and staff, UNM Planning Design and Construction, and the many students and faculty that gave input over the years.

Client
University of New Mexico

Location
Albuquerque, NM

Size
50,001-75,000 sf

Disciplines

Beyond the Building