Explore the Health Sciences Innovation Building’s Features
The Health Sciences Innovation Building features multimedia training and simulation opportunities, flexible classroom and event space, and more.
Each floor of the Health Sciences Innovation Building was designed with purpose, meant to intuitively serve the needs of students, faculty and staff. It’s designed to foster and encourage interprofessional collaboration, as the home of Health Sciences signature programs such as the Health Sciences design Program and interprofessional training experiences.
It’s also built to adapt to the changing needs of the Health Sciences community, and serve the communities within the University of Arizona, Tucson and beyond.
The building, opened in 2019, has won numerous awards for its unique design.
The Health Sciences Innovation Building was opened in 2019 as a cutting-edge science research, education and outreach space, flexible to meet the changing needs of the Health Sciences community.
The south-facing exterior of the building features expansive views, and the upper floors are fitted with SageGlass. The material works like photochromic glasses that automatically darken when exposed to sunlight. They help block excess light while allowing views of summertime monsoons, soaring hawks and the Santa Rita Mountains.
The porch space outside the first floor features tall, covered walkways and seating areas.
The west side of the Health Sciences Innovation Building features twisting lines of concrete and mesh, which enable light to enter the building, while enclosing elevators and staircases. The angle of the sun shifts the shadows created by the twisting shapes throughout the day.
The first-floor event space is called The Forum. It provides an open space for lectures, classes, live and virtual events. The “garage doors” on the south end of the room open to enable indoor-outdoor space usage.
At the base of The Forum, musicians and a film crew prepare for a live-streamed music event.
The Forum spans the first and second floors of the Health Sciences Innovation Building. Multiple multimedia screens are available to enhance presentations and events.
Hundreds of Health Sciences faculty and staff attend a town hall with Michael D. Dake, MD, senior vice president for Health Sciences, in January 2020.
Looking down at The Forum from the second floor, no vertical columns obstruct the view. The staircase on the west side of the building allows easy access to upper floors, and is designed to discourage elevator use.
At the top of The Forum, the second floor hosts The Golden Waves digital artwork of the El Mirador Project, which enhances the entrance to the Faculty Commons + Advisory space.
The Faculty Commons + Advisory is a space designed for Health Sciences faculty to connect and collaborate. Half of the space is filled with intimate meeting spots, booths, tables and small nooks make it easy to meet on the fly or schedule a conversation with colleagues.
The other half of the Faculty Commons + Advisory is akin to a faculty lounge, with comfortable chairs, periodicals and fresh coffee.
The third floor boasts a large classroom that can be used for catered events, large classes, or conferences.
Study areas are nestled along a staircase that spans the east side of the building, making it easy to find a place to work alone or with a small group, aided by plenty of natural light.
Study areas are nestled along a staircase that spans the east side of the building, making it easy to find a place to work alone or with a small group, aided by plenty of natural light.
Floors three through six feature classroom and small group working spaces.
Large classrooms complement smaller spaces on floors three through six.
Floors three through six feature classrooms outfitted with technology, and small group working spaces with doors and whiteboards to assist in collaboration efforts.
The sixth floor is home to the Health Sciences design Program.
The multimedia studio is used by BioCommunications to support all five Health Sciences colleges. It is located on the fifth floor of HSIB.
A porch on the upper floors of Health Sciences Innovation Building provides a unique event space. Outdoor furniture is available for the Health Sciences community to enjoy.
The seventh floor is home to the Arizona Simulation and Technology Education Center, where large-scale health simulation exercises can commence, and students can get training with manikins in a number of specialty skills.
Inside the ASTEC simulation space, students practice with all the equipment they would see in a hospital.
Examining a manikin on the ASTEC simulation area on the seventh floor.
As part of the simulation center, a multimedia hub allows instructors to evaluate and coach students.
Outdoor spaces on the upper floors of the building offer covered, panoramic views and access to natural elements.
On the eighth floor, standardized patients help students learn patient care, with simulated exam rooms.
Clara Curiel, MD, teaches onlookers about skin cancer research on the eighth floor of the Health Sciences Innovation Building.
The ninth floor features offices, with north-to-south and east-to-west views of the Health Sciences campus.