ROY AND DIANA VAGELOS

EDUCATION CENTER
Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
Aerial view of The Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center. Photo: Iwan Bann Submission ID#297599
Exterior view of the study cascade and south facade. Photo: Iwan Bann Submission ID#297599
View into the social and study spaces that comprise the study cascade. Photo: Iwan Bann Submission ID#297599
Lobby. The street level entrance to the tower opens to a double-height, tiered lobby, shown here with floor-to-ceiling views of the building’s dense urban context. The main stairway ascends to the Study Cas- Submission ID#297599
cade, while shallow steps opposite the card-access entrance rise up to an area that offers a variety of seating options, including a study bar, upholstered lounging pieces, and a café. Photo: Iwan Baan
Vertically intersecting lobby stairways ascend to join the Study Cascade, and descend to a lower-floor Simulation Suite, comprised of mock clinics, examination rooms, and operating rooms. Photo: Iwan Baan Submission ID#297599
View of the 265-seat auditorium and exterior terrace. Photo: Iwan Bann Submission ID#297599
Anatomy Quad. The flexible learning space features integrated screens, task lighting, and views of the cityscape. Photo: Iwan Baan Submission ID#297599
Study Cascade Alcove. An unprogrammed space along the Study Cascade, flooded with natural light, provides tiered, fixed upholstered seating that encourages study breaks where students can study with “collective individuality.” Submission ID#297599
Photo: Nic LeHoux
Study Cascade Alcove, Aerial View. An unprogrammed space along the Study Cascade, flooded with natural light, provides tiered, fixed upholstered seating that encourages study breaks where students can Submission ID#297599
study with “collective individuality.” Photo: Nic LeHoux
Study Cascade Alcove. An unprogrammed space along the Study Cascade, flooded with natural light, provides tiered, fixed upholstered seating that encourages study breaks where students can study with “collective individuality.” Submission ID#297599
Photo: Iwan Bann
Sky Lounge. The Study Cascade terminates on the 14th floor Sky Lounge, where a range of spatial typologies – intimate and informal, enclosed and formal, lounge and casual – accommodate a variety of study group types. Submission ID#297599
Photo: Iwan Bann
The warm, wood-lined interiors of the Study Cascade extend out to adjacent open-air terraces, which provide expansive views of Manhattan to the south. Photo: Nic LeHoux Submission ID#297599
Sketch. Courtesy: The Firm Submission ID#297599
Program Inversion Sketch. Courtesy: The Firm Submission ID#297599
“Villages”. Courtesy: The Firm Submission ID#297599
Tower Diagram. Courtesy: The Firm Submission ID#297599
Cross Section. Courtesy: The Firm Submission ID#297599
 TECHNICAL & MATERIAL DESCRIPTION

The Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) Ceramic “frit” patterns and gradients
cladding panel system follows the trajecetories are baked onto the north end of the
of the cascade and defines each ‘neighborhood’ building to filter and diffuse sunlight
zone of the building. while mitigating solar gain.

Insulated stick built glass fin curtainwall

with low-iron glass and low-e coating optimizes
energy and allows for maximum transparency.
Each of the glass fins is unique: length 1.2 to
9m, depth 34 to 61cm, build-up 3 x 10 / 12 /
15mm, weight 70kg to 620kg.

Unitized aluminum mullion

curtainwall with integrated GFRC
The interior finishes of the study cascade elements clads the north end of the
include Douglas Fir wood veneer wall and building.
ceiling panels, Douglas Fir end grain wood
flooring, and solid wood millwork. Higher
traffic areas use terrazzo flooring.

The West Court, a garden space shared The building’s structural spine is
between the new building and adjacent a site-formed reinforced concrete
student residences, features local plant vertical core, which provides shear
species from the Palisades and views capacity. In the cascade, there are
across the Hudson River and to the reinforced architectural concrete
George Washington Bridge. columns with embedded steel-up
girders. Post-tensioned, reinforced
concrete slabs with embedded
structural steel and cobiax void-
formers enable the long spans and
cantilevers of the south facade.

UE
V EN
A
N
AVE
H

The South Court, a

new amenity created by
configuring the entry to the
CUMC parking garage to N
create a landscaped garden
with shaded seating areas and
views of the Hudson River.

To Campus

Technical and Material Description. Courtesy: The Firm Submission ID#297599

 INTERNAL ORGANIZATION

STUDY CASCADE
A network of social and study spaces distributed SPECIALIZED SPACES
across oversized landings along an open 14-story A vertical stack of loft classrooms,
stair - a single, interconnected vertical space that laboratories, technical spaces,
extends from the lobby to the top of the building. offices, and controlled environments.

Sky Lounge Active Learning Classrooms

Intimate and informal gathering space for study Divided by operable partitions, these
groups. 30 / 60 person flexible spaces offer
indirect sunlight and controlled
views through continuous, full
Exterior Terraces height windows. Flexible furniture
Available for student use at 4th, 8th, 10th, and configurations are made possible by
13th floors. distributed power and data at the
floor, and by suspended ceilings.
Stepped Lounge
A tiered study lounge (on floors 7-8 and 11-12)
provides opportunity for formal and informal Administration Suites
study. Office and support spaces for
faculty and administration.
The Student Commons
A double-height space that features a café,
lounge seating, and balconies for both social
gatherings and independent study.

Simulation Center
A specialized zone with mock
Study Spaces examination rooms, clinics, and
A range of intimate lounge-style and desk operating rooms.
areas are distributed throughout the study
cascade.

Anatomy Quad
Suspended booms with integrated
screens and task lighting. Large
footprint and central location allows
for flexible use.

Multi-purpose auditorium
Special Event Space
A 275-seat flexible space used for campus-
190-person classroom / flexible
wide events including lectures, screenings, and
event space with catering support.
concerts.

Lobby
The space is formed by a seating area, cafe,
and a “study bar” overlooking the outdoor Simulation Suite
courts. An open reception area with
debriefing rooms and support
spaces, as well as further mock
examination rooms, clinics, and
operating rooms.

Internal Organization. Courtesy: The Firm Submission ID#297599