It has been one year since the groundbreaking of the BJC Institute of Health at Washington University, and now the 11-story steel framework is on schedule to “top out” in December.
The School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital plan to open the BJC Institute of Health in December 2009. The 700,000-square-foot BJC Institute of Health will be the hub for BioMed 21, the University’s initiative to speed scientific discovery and rapidly apply breakthroughs to patient care. Five Interdisciplinary Research Centers of BioMed 21 comprising School of Medicine researchers from a wide variety of fields will be located in the building as well as some support operations for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
The BJC Institute of Health is striving for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, recognizing green buildings for conserving energy and protecting the environment. A plaza will front the building, continuing efforts to make Euclid Avenue a relaxing and attractive area to walk and gather.
Crews have started to enclose the building, wrapping the first floor in brick and beginning to place the limestone panels. Work will continue to shift toward enclosing the building in stone and glass, then to finishing the inside.
“We are now only 14 months away from opening the BJC Institute of Health at Washington University,” said Richard Stanton, associate vice chancellor and associate dean for administration and finance. “The building’s layout will facilitate collaboration among researchers, offering tremendous potential for new ideas and inspiration.”