The University of Colorado’s new Health and Wellness Center (HWC) is a 94,000 SF state-of-the-art facility on the Anschutz Medical Campus. Designed to foster a new culture of sustainable healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, research and care focusing on alternative and complementary medicines and holistic wellness, this new comprehensive facility serves the University’s existing centers for Human Nutrition, Integrative Medicine, and Women’s Health Research programs.
The new “campus gateway” facility occupies a prominent corner on the Anschutz Medical Campus. Designed in an ‘L’ shape derived from challenging site constraints, the building takes advantage of a centrally located core with a welcoming entrance lobby that orients and connects wellness based research activity throughout 4 levels of integrated programs, supporting visual and physical collaboration through intended programmatic collisions. A dynamic nutrition lab and bistro anchors the ground floor. The two-story volume of the fitness area is articulated through a transparent expression on the north façade that projects an active image to the campus and community. The fitness center features state-of-the-art exercise equipment and technology with amenities that include a warm-water therapy pool, steam room, sauna, whirlpool, running/walking track, demonstration kitchen and exercise studios. A second floor clinical trials center takes advantage of overlap relationships to the fitness lab, classrooms and offices located on the third and fourth floors. A third floor holistic wellness lounge, adjacent to a roof garden featuring mountain views of Colorado, supports all programs.
The facility was designed in a “Colorado-style” that expresses the warmth of the building to both guests and employees. A vertical masonry and fritted glass lantern marks the entry to the HWC while additional masonry grounds the building and extends upward to support a lighter expression of the clinic and office floors. The clinic is wrapped in both deep set masonry piers to the west; metal panels wrap around to the east, subtly reflecting the surrounding environment.
The design partnership of H+L Architecture of Denver and Cannon Design completed HWC in June, 2012 and is pursuing LEED Gold certification.
The landscape design strives for an inside-outside connection, promoting a healthy lifestyle. The relationship with the landscape starts with the extension of the bistro into an exterior patio. South of the bistro patio is a garden with plenty of seating opportunities. The linear design of the garden planting reflects the agrarian culture and connection of food and landscape. The selected plant species appeal to all senses including taste. Perennial herbs inside the garden are aesthetically pleasing and can be used in the demonstration kitchen. The connection to the outdoors continues on the upper levels with an accessible green roof. Panoramic views make this space ideal for fundraisers and special events. The connection to a healthy lifestyle is made with planting space to grow organic produce for the bistro, and special accommodations have been made to allow for a future greenhouse addition.
