Health
Sciences
Academic
Building
A significant addition to the University of Iowa's campus that provides much-needed space for the growth of the College of Health Sciences and enables the university to enhance the training and education of Iowa's future healthcare workforce.
Part of a 10-year master plan to expand and modernize the University of Iowa Hospital, the Health Sciences Academic Building (HSAB) is a major urban project within the University of Iowa campus and provides state-of-the-art learning spaces that allow for future growth in three of the university's most popular and top-ranked programs and support the university's ability to attract and retain top students and faculty.
Set to be fully completed in summer 2026, the HSAB serves both users and the greater campus academic and student community, and its innovative design and sustainable features act as a model for future academic buildings. RDG's design encompasses seven stories and 263,000 SF of academic, administrative, clinical and research space for three of the university's major departments: Communication Sciences and Disorders, Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Sciences, and Health and Human Physiology. A trio of fundamental principles influences the building's design: continuing a cohesive campus, developing strong relationships with the site, and establishing an architecture that reflects the innovative nature of the programs within.
The design for the building carefully considers existing campus architecture to create a sense of continuity, and the building's prominent location on campus is leveraged to create a strong presence for the campus, provide programmatic amenities, and connect to the surrounding neighborhood. Insulated glazing at the exterior exposes the interior programming to allow for a visual connection from the building to the community. Classrooms are designed to be flexible and can adapt to a variety of teaching methods, while the research labs are equipped with the latest technology and designed to support cutting-edge research.
RDG's interior design is organized around a central atrium with an interconnecting stair linking all the programs together. Filled with natural light, the atrium offers outdoor views at each level to promote the well-being of users and visitors. The building volume pulls inward at the ground plane, creating covered walkways to the entry and offering clear wayfinding and safe access.
The design also utilizes nearly an acre of open space on the site to leverage existing large, mature trees for shade and create an expansive outdoor patio for seating and gathering, an outdoor lighted basketball court with a large seating berm and a sprawling lawn.
The landscape surrounding the University of Iowa’s Health Sciences Academic Building creates a welcoming place to gather, recharge and connect. Nearly an acre of open space brings shaded seating, informal recreation and flexible lawn areas into the daily experience of students, faculty, staff and visitors.
RDG’s site design builds upon one of the campus’s most valuable existing assets: its mature trees. Preserving these trees establishes an immediate sense of place, providing shade and continuity with the surrounding campus. An expansive outdoor patio extends activity beyond the building, offering space for studying, sharing a meal or spending time between classes. A lighted basketball court introduces opportunities for recreation, while a broad seating berm provides a place to watch, socialize and relax. The large lawn accommodates informal activities, hammock posts, and gives the densely developed setting room to breathe.
The design balances these social spaces with the practical demands of a busy campus. Pedestrian connections and clearly defined building approaches link the new facility with neighboring destinations while accommodating accessibility, service needs and residence hall operations. Curving walks, planted edges and integrated seating organize movement and create a varied sequence of outdoor experiences.
Above ground level, a rooftop play and therapy space connects the landscape directly to the building’s clinical purpose. Developed around evaluation and therapy needs, the space combines play equipment, flexible activity areas and seating to support movement, interaction and discovery. Areas for gathering and respite also consider the experience of patients, families and care providers.
Together, these spaces make the landscape an active part of the academic environment. From the shade of an established tree to an outdoor therapy session, the site supports the everyday encounters and experiences that connect people to campus.