Nursing, Health Science Center & Research Facility | Tarleton State University

Construction Cost : $15.9M | SF : 55,000 The new LEED Silver Compliant Nursing Classroom, Lab and Faculty Office Building for Tarleton State University had a very diverse program. It required four (40) person Smart Classrooms, three large Smart Tiered Classrooms, (5) Nursing Labs with high fidelity interactive mannequins and audio/video recording capabilities, Research Offices, and (30) Faculty Offices including the Nursing College Dean. The new Nursing building had a strong interrelationship with the Science Building to the east, the residence life quadrant to the north and the academic core to the south. The new buildings on campus incorporated similar sweeping curves in their facades including the new Recreation Center to the west (also designed by RSA). RSA’s design concept called for the new structure to be sited a short distance from the science building with an intimate courtyard between the two containing a well landscaped outdoor green space and a large reflecting pond. The main entrance and the majority of the glass on the Nursing building exterior face east providing views toward the reflecting pond and courtyard and reducing solar heat gain. The west side of the building consists primarily of masonry walls punctuated by glass enclosed stairwells and a trellised roof terrace (designed to be a green roof). The limited glazing on the west facade was the intentional result of zoning functions to this side of the building that did not require natural light thus reducing solar heat gain. Locating the building close to the Science Building on the east side preserved a large undeveloped area on the west for an outdoor green space with student seating areas and a bosque of trees. The building and adjoining courtyards have become popular student destinations on campus.