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University of Florida

Harrell Medical Education Building

the story

Designed in collaboration with CBRE | Heery, the University of Florida Harrell Medical Education Building is a new classroom building constructed within the medical education campus of the University. The project includes an extension of the campus courtyard with accommodations for pedestrian, bicycle, scooter, car and public transit access. 

As Civil-Engineer-of-Record, SLAM (formerly Heery Design) provided civil engineering construction documents for the 3.4 acre site that included the new medical education building, pavement, pervious paving, adjacent roadways and site amenities. Documentation included demolition and erosion control plans, grading and drainage plans, utility construction plans for water, fire and sanitary sewer, dimensioning plans, construction details and specifications.

Stormwater design helped to identify whether additional measures were needed to enhance, not only the building site, but 75 acres of the surrounding campus. 

at-a-glance

TYPE:
New Building
PRACTICE:
Civil Engineering
LOCATION:
Gainesville, FL
STATUS:
Completed 2015
SIZE:
94,000 SF New Education Building | 3.4 Acre Site Development

Analysis concluded that an adjacent stream needed dredging to address intermittent site flooding and that additional stormwater detention storage was needed to mitigate the project’s encroachment into a floodplain.  Stormwater best management practices including pervious paving, rain gardens and level spreaders were designed and constructed to meet local, state and LEED requirements. Survey, geotechnical investigations, past design as-built documentation, permit information and GIS data of wetlands and topography were utilized. 

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The project received LEED Gold certification which included sustainable site credits for development density and community connectivity, transportation, stormwater design, and water use reduction.   

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Site planning and design included the protection of two 100-year old, 50-inch diameter oak trees.  The intent was to maintain a restful outdoor space for student breaks and meetings. 

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AIA Orlando Design Award – Built Award of Honor | City of Gainesville City Beautification “Outstanding Institution”