Perkins Eastman to design $50 million fit-out for outpatient care center

The international design and architecture firm Perkins Eastman has been selected as the architect for the fit-out of the new outpatient care center at the University of Connecticut Health Center, responsible for the programming, design, specifications, and construction administration. The new 300,000 s/f building is part of the Bioscience Connecticut initiative and will be the cornerstone of a new outpatient clinical zone composed of the medical arts and research building and the administrative services building located on the lower campus of the health center. The building will incorporate best practices for sustainability and achieve a minimum of LEED Silver certification. Estimated completion date is December 2014. The $50 million fit-out will house existing clinical programs and support services from the Dowling North and Dowling South Buildings and other clinical faculty practices from the main Building of the Health Center, along with numerous other programs that will be moved to the new building in an effort to consolidate all ambulatory services. The new building will incorporate modular clinical design for future flexibility, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Perkins Eastman will use BIM technology to enhance the design, coordination, and construction process. Project director Lynne Rizk said, "We are so pleased to be involved with this project that will incorporate the principles of evidence based design and patient and family centered healing. Perkins Eastman is committed to making its projects environmentally sensitive, energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthy to occupy. We strongly believe the built environment is important to achieving healthy architecture."