Health Sciences City The available land area, although limited, combined with the unique partnership between the primary institutions and the supporting partnerships of the development interests within the adjacent Bioscience Park and the City of Aurora, has presented the opportunity to create an integrated clinical, academic, research and professional community. To support the idea of Health Sciences City, a town center environment with a variety of commercial and residential uses was established at the heart of the site focusing on the existing historic Red Cross building and nearby post chapel, and extending to the historic Building 500, the former FAMC hospital, now an administrative center. Planning Guidelines Campus planning, landscape and architectural guidelines allow development to occur in a unified and ordered manner without sacrificing the opportunity for diversity in the buildings or exterior spaces. The architecture of the campus is largely organized to form strong, coherent edges to functional open spaces and streets - buildings are positioned, not as individual elements, but as elements that form a series of edges that reinforce the organization of open space and circulation. The philosophy of the Master Plan is based on the positioning of potential building sites around defined open spaces and inter-related pedestrian and vehicular corridors. A physical master plan created in 1998, has served to guide the development of the campus by providing a development framework within which to grasp the programmatic opportunities and potential of a new campus. Planning Process The framework of the master plan provides an ongoing structure of circulation for pedestrians, transit, and vehicular access and service to guide the campus development. These elements are contained within a framework of open spaces and circulation routes that define, and give access to, the major development areas. Individual projects apply the principles of planning and physical development to their specific site and the surrounding sites, both existing and future, to create a micromasterplan that ensures the optimum development pattern in the continuing evolution of a campus complex that reflects those fundamental guiding principles. Physical Development Individual projects ultimately determine the way the campus operates and develops and are of the utmost importance. Key considerations include: Building for the future Flexibility of Use Expandability and Adaptability Building to appropriate density appropriate to the idea that the available land is a finite quantity and that our development opportunities must be carefully preserved Economy of construction and operation and the incorporation of sustainable design principles to reduce short term impacts and long term costs Design that supports the idea of an inviting and welcoming campus environment, with sheltered, transparent building entrances and circulation spaces configurations that present a welcoming identity for the environment at nighttime and during the day. Creating and maintaining future opportunities for connectivity with pedestrian routes, shuttle circulators and bridges. Connections between buildings and functions are critical to the concept of campus integration, interdisciplinary work, and shared resources. These connections can take on a variety of forms from underground tunnels, open walkways at grade level, bridges, enclosed building sections, or a combination of these. In some cases, these connections may occur through buildings or structures. Developing working, learning and patient spaces to take advantage of natural light and views wherever possible, reducing lighting loads and contributing to individual orientation and comfort. Creating within the open space framework and architecture, variety in expression and character appropriate to individual uses - healing and restful environments, areas for collaboration and contemplation, as well as ceremonial spaces and places for gatherings and active play. Developing exterior spaces to accommodate an active, healthful lifestyle appropriate to a health sciences campus with areas of informal recreation, jogging and walking trails, bike and pedestrian routes. Minimizing the impact of the development on the natural environment by reducing and controlling storm runoff, maintaining efficient lighting levels and reducing light pollution, reducing vehicular traffic, and in general, designing structures and landscapes responsive to the unique nature of the Colorado environment. To ensure consistent development reflecting the highest quality in planning and design, the University Design Review Board conducts periodic reviews of projects being developed on the Anschutz Medical Campus. Similar development reviews occur within the surrounding development areas.
Planning and Design Principles The development framework and guidelines for planning and design reflect those over-arching principles and inform daily, short-term decisions with a long-range perspective. Create a Patient/Visitor friendly- welcoming and approachable campus. Provide connections to community amenities and resources, such as the adjacent Respect the landscape legacy of the site the concept of buildings in a park. open space of Sand Creek, as natural extensions of the open space of the campus. Respect the fact that the land is a finite resource use it efficiently. Promote interaction between the campus community and the surrounding Create a campus where buildings achieve a unified image beyond individual public/private communities. function. Incorporate a common palette of materials and elements of design that Build a system of efficient roadways including a ring road near the perimeter to are appropriate to Colorado and our unique climate. augment the system of surrounding arterial streets and highways minimize Maintain symbolic historic gateway from Colfax Avenue to Building 500. interior roadways to allow an efficient, connected, pedestrian core. Enhance image and identity of campus edge with a pattern of landscape elements Provide multiple points of vehicular entry to the campus to increase accessibility and features that create a memorable campus identity. for patients, faculty, staff, students and visitors, thereby reducing congestion and Provide flexibility for new opportunities; allow for building expansion and logical better accommodating the volume and variety of traffic generated by the academic new building sites. health center. Provide a land bank for future development opportunities and growth. Develop a multi-modal landscape and transit corridor along Montview Boulevard Create utility corridors that underlie major pedestrian and vehicular routes to that acts as a seam between the academic health sciences campus and the serve all areas of the campus. neighboring Bioscience Park. Program needs drive the physical development create a flexible, responsive Develop pathways and service connections linking the RTD light rail and bus development framework. transit stations to the activities of the campus. Define overall campus zones for research, education and clinical facilities that Utilize a system of perimeter parking structures and facilities to provide for an overlap to promote interdisciplinary development and activities, and sharing of efficient mode transition for visitors, patients, and employees. resources. Provide parking facilities near arrival points and treatment centers within the Create and preserve open spaces that give identity to campus zones. clinical zone. Primary open spaces within the campus include the research and clinical commons, Encourage combined use of parking facilities to increase efficiency. the education (Boettcher) commons, the informal open space connecting General s Integrate appropriate alternative and supplemental uses within parking structures to Park and the historic post chapel, the commons connecting the Red Cross building increase efficiency and convenience. and Building 500, and the historic parade grounds. Utilize land for designated for future development as surface parking areas to Create a network of open spaces that create opportunities for interaction between reduce initial development costs. faculty, students, and staff. Encourage the development of parking below grade and below buildings to use land Connect buildings and institutions with common open spaces that facilitate more efficiently. pedestrian and alternative mode movements. Integrate transit and other alternative modes of travel and access that reduce the use The research and clinical commons link the UCH and Anschutz Medical Center of single occupancy vehicles. with the teaching and research complex of the UC Denver. The educational Ensure that bike routes and pedestrian pathways are integrated with patterns in the (Boettcher) commons link the CHC with the teaching and clinical areas of the surrounding community. education zone. And, the commons north of Building 500 link the academic and Develop in a logical sequence. administrative areas with the town center. Enhance movement within the campus through the network of open spaces with views connecting architectural and landscape landmarks that provide orientation and facilitate wayfinding.