New medical school designed to provide healthy, restorative learning environment

Kansas City, MO – June 6,  2017 – Nationally-recognized design and planning firm Gould Evans, together with the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCU), Kahler Slater and JE Dunn, is pleased to announce the completion of the Farber-McIntire Campus, located in Joplin, Missouri. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 3:00pm CT to celebrate this milestone in the University’s effort to help improve access to medical care for the underserved rural Midwest region.

Building on KCU’s program and philosophy for holistic osteopathic medicine, the new facility, which was originally built as a temporary hospital structure, has been reinvented as a state-of-the-art medical school within a highly restorative facility that intentionally supports students’ mental, physical and emotional health.

Gould Evans’ design of the new campus responds to the University’s need for a learning environment that addresses the stress and mental fatigue that affects medical students here and across the country. The design redefines restorative care using restorative design principles and innovative student services programming.

“Our students effectively learn six years’ worth of content in two years before beginning their clinical rotations. It’s extremely demanding!” Provost, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences

Holistic remedies for depression were studied, interpreted and used as the premise for many of the design strategies.

“Our research identified many natural ways to prevent and cure to depression, from which we extrapolated design strategies to actively and passively support students in sustaining healthy lifestyles during their two years on campus.” David Reid, Design Principal, Gould Evans

Using this clinical research and principles of biophilic design as a starting point, Gould Evans developed a pattern language of elements which permeated the design of this renovated facility. Students can enjoy a variety of bright, flexible spaces including:

• The addition of daylight and outside views from each major pathway in the building to offer more exposure to sunlight and views to nature

• A “Student Support Center” serving healthy snacks and vitamin supplements, with access to counselors cross trained in nutrition and emotional counseling

• A variety of indoor/outdoor activity rooms and spaces to support engaged activity, including a game room, a BBQ patio, an art room, a yoga studio, a fitness path and a Frisbee golf course

• A Program Center dubbed “Front Porch” that acts as a connection with the community and provides space for social gatherings

• A variety of quiet spaces to support “just in time power naps”, including hanging basket chairs, solitude nooks, and padded benches

• Ample spaces for student to connect and develop stronger social connections

The KCU-Joplin campus is located in the former Mercy Hospital Joplin, a temporary structure built in 2012 after the destruction of St. John’s Hospital in the tornado. KCU-Joplin has been made possible through collaboration among KCU, Mercy Hospital Joplin, Freeman Health System, the City of Joplin and philanthropic leadership from the surrounding community.

About Gould Evans
Gould Evans’ award-winning designs are recognized for their specificity to people and place. Our diverse portfolio of architecture stems from a design process that starts with the client’s goals. We share a passion for regional architecture and design that positively impacts our communities. To learn more, visit www.gouldevans.com.

Gould Evans Media Contact
Megan Krtek
(816)701-5422
megan.krtek@gouldevans.com

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