A new addition to the campus is being prepared for its opening on August 16. In over two weeks time, Columbia University's Medical Center will unveil its new Medical and Graduate Education building.
The building is also know as the Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center. The building is named the university's College of Physicians and Surgeons alumnus, P. Roy Vagelos, and his wife Diana Vagelos who contributed to the construction of the building.
The center itself is located on Haven Avenue in Washington Heights between West 171st and West 172nd Streets. The interior of the place is uniquely designed. What was once a 60 story townhouse was then demolished to make way for a medical building. The new addition to the campus will welcome its first batch of students this year. Curbed has it that the narrow lot was a challenge for the architecture and design team to build on but they eventually succeeded.
Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Gensler, the architecture team behind the building, decided to build up. They decided to build on a "Study Cascase." The design is an exposed vertical staircase that runs the length of the building. The structure itself looks like it is interweaving between the study and social venues..
The unique design was to incorporate Columbia University's educational program. The interiors and exteriors are made in a way that focuses on collaboration and learning.
With the building's progressive design, the first batch who will experience the interiors shall get to use the simulation rooms. The building houses examination rooms and operation theaters for medical and clinical learning. In addition, there are various classrooms that are well configured to suit the students' needs.
The Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center is scheduled to be open to the staff and student body on August 16, 2016.
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