Human Health Building wins Construction & Design Award

The esteemed Construction and Design Awards are given to members of the construction industry and their projects. These awards are unique in that they honor the three primary members of the building team — owners, designers and constructors — and recognize outstanding team achievement and innovative use of technology. The awards were conceived 39 years ago to encourage elevation of the standard of practice in the construction industry.

On the cutting edge of environmentally friendly design, the building boasts 256 geothermal wells to boost energy efficiency, a variable refrigerant heat pump system, and solar panels that provide cooling, humidity control and heating water supplies.

“We took a monumental step towards sustainability in building the HHB,” said Senior Project Manager John Harmala. “It’s reinforcing the innovative engineering approaches taking place on campus.”

The $62 million facility was designed by SmithGroupJJR and contracted by The Christman Company. It features a large auditorium, nine classrooms, a clinic, an expansive teaching lab, and faculty and administrative offices for the School of Nursing and the School of Health Sciences. The building’s design is expected to save more than 35 percent a year in energy costs vs. standard technologies.