Sam Houston State University

the story

SLAM designed, in association with partner architect Page, the new Sam Houston State University, College of Medicine campus’ inaugural facility. The building integrates spaces for instruction, research, academic administration, and student life. Specialty instructional areas include osteopathic manipulative medicine and gross anatomy labs and standardized patient and simulation suites. Among the building’s other program spaces are classrooms (teaching theater, active learning classroom, multi-purpose room, team rooms), student space (virtual library, learning communities, student organization), faculty & staff space (academic affairs, enrollment management / student affairs, leadership, academic departments) in addition to shared space (café & retail, gathering space).

at-a-glance

TYPE:

New Building

SERVICES:

Architecture

Interior Design

Lab/Sim Planning

Programming & Planning

LOCATION:

Conroe, TX

STATUS:

Completed 2020

SIZE:

107,000 SF

Sam Houston State University, College of Medicine was established in 2019 with a mission to expand healthcare availability to rural communities and address the shortage of primary care physicians in Texas. Accreditation of the college hinged on the completion of the new College of Osteopathic Medicine building.

In 2023 the SHSU College of Medicine became eligible for state formula funding, only the seventh College of Osteopathic Medicine in the country, the first medical school in Montgomery County, and the third Osteopathic college in Texas. The building is planned for enrollment growth of up to 160 students per year and sits on 7.3 acres of wooded land that will accommodate future health professional schools.

<p>The character of the site maintains a natural, wooded feeling with the building nestled into the landscape giving a distinctive character to the medical school in the midst of the surrounding commercial development. The natural landscape helps create a sense of “campus” while providing a calming relief from what is often a very demanding and stressful program.</p>

The character of the site maintains a natural, wooded feeling with the building nestled into the landscape giving a distinctive character to the medical school in the midst of the surrounding commercial development. The natural landscape helps create a sense of “campus” while providing a calming relief from what is often a very demanding and stressful program.

An open, welcoming double-height lobby serves as the College’s “living room” and provides a powerful bridge between indoors and outdoors.

<p>The standardized patient suite is an interactive learning environment that mimics a doctors office and includes ten simulated patient exam rooms and debriefing room.</p>

The standardized patient suite is an interactive learning environment that mimics a doctors office and includes ten simulated patient exam rooms and debriefing room.

<p>A simulated hospital allows learners to replicate pediatric and adult scenarios within surgical suites, recovery rooms, nursing station, and observation and debriefing rooms.</p>

A simulated hospital allows learners to replicate pediatric and adult scenarios within surgical suites, recovery rooms, nursing station, and observation and debriefing rooms.

A 160-seat interactive teaching theater is used for lectures and guest speakers.

Four learning communities provide areas for student collaboration or individual study.

A gross anatomy lab is equipped with dissection tables, examination cameras and monitors.

<p>The clinical skills training room accommodates 75 learners and includes 42 adjustable tables for the practice of osteopathic manipulative medicine.</p>

The clinical skills training room accommodates 75 learners and includes 42 adjustable tables for the practice of osteopathic manipulative medicine.

Sam Houston State University

the story

at-a-glance

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