University of Florida
Student Health Care Center Phase II
State-of-the art healthcare. First-of-its-kind facility.
Located in the vibrant college town of Gainesville, Florida, is the nationally-ranked University of Florida (UF). Cultivating lifelong learners and innovators, UF encourages students, faculty, and staff to pursue its core values – excellence, discovery, freedom, community, and stewardship, offering over 300 undergraduate and graduate programs.
Since 1906, the UF Student Health Care Center (SHCC) has been a cornerstone of student health, growing exponentially to expand services and meet the needs of a growing student population. Replacing an infirmary built in the 1930s, SHCC has added clinic wings to accommodate growing student populations and continue providing advanced patient care.
SHCC houses primary care, a full-service pharmacy, and specialty and urgent care services, including gynecology and sexual health, sports medicine and acute care, nutrition, radiology, and psychiatry. The facility is equipped for future growth with structural systems designed for vertical expansion.
AEI provided mechanical, electrical, piping/plumbing, and fire protection design services and served as a sustainable design and WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) consultant.
The SHCC waiting area has expansive windows to maximize natural light and exposure to the outdoors.
AEI’s design for the facility includes the following:
- Supply and exhaust air, including an infectious disease unit with 100% outside air
- Heating hot water
- Domestic water distribution and heating
- Fire protection – wet and dry systems
- Fire alarm
- Normal power
- Standby and emergency power
- Lighting
- Lightning protection
Representing UF’s bold step towards enhancing student well-being, separate from treating illnesses, SHCC is the nation’s first WELL Certified™ Platinum higher education facility. WELL-certified facilities, including SHCC, incorporate biophilic design elements, prioritizing building occupant health and comfort. WELL holistically analyzes facility occupant well-being across 10 concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, and community.
- 1st
- WELL Certified™ Platinum public higher education building in the US
“Dedicated to optimizing health and wellness for our patients and staff, the Student Health Care Center invested in WELL to improve patient care for our students. With approximately 62,000 patient visits each year, WELL elements such as clean air, purified water, and natural light enhance the well-being of everyone in our building. Additionally, focusing on the health and wellness of our staff is a crucial component in the delivery of high-quality health care to our patients.”
Dedicated to holistic student health, SHCC features MEP infrastructure that supports exceptional air and water quality. Negative-pressure rooms and advanced HVAC systems demonstrate flexibility for future infectious disease outbreaks while maintaining outpatient suite functionality.
WELL Certification Benefits
The innovative design of SHCC not only sets a new standard in healthcare but also profoundly enhances the daily lives of students and staff through the following features:
Air – SHCC’s effective mechanical ventilation provides high-quality airflow, bringing fresh air into the facility while internal CO2 sensors remove toxins.
Water – Filtered water fountains, accessible on each of SHCC’s three floors, offer access to drinking water that meets World Health Organization standards and encourages healthy hydration habits.
Nourishment – SHCC hosts a demonstration kitchen where staff and students can fuel their bodies and learn about balanced nutrition.
Light – SHCC maximizes natural daylight exposure throughout the facility to create a visually inviting environment. Adjustable facility lighting meets individual occupant and space needs.
Movement – SHCC inspires physical activity and encourages physical activity with planning and ergonomics.
Thermal Comfort – SHCC maintains comfortable temperatures through humidity control and thermal zoning. Outdoor areas are designed to minimize excessive wind and provide adequate shade for high temperatures.
Sound – SHCC reinforces patient privacy and comfort with sound-masking technology that minimizes acoustic distractions outside SHCC and other patient rooms.
Materials – SHCC is constructed with low-hazard materials, has long and short-term emission control threshold testing procedures, and uses cleaning products with little
Mind – SHCC offers enhanced outdoor engagement via tiered gardens and a rooftop terrace, promoting mental health and wellbeing.
Community – SHCC implemented accessible and universal design features and provides annual flu shot clinics and support for new parents.
“This extraordinary health leadership by the University of Florida truly benefits the students who are the most in need for wellness support. The SHCC WELL project exemplifies how intentional strategies in our built environment can nurture our well-being.”
- 100th
- sustainable building certification for the University of Florida
Rising to meet today’s healthcare needs, SHCC’s comprehensive facility exemplifies UF’s commitment to student health and well-being. By integrating advanced systems with sustainable design, this first-of-its-kind healthcare facility provides a welcoming environment for patients and staff while addressing future campus needs with a forward-thinking approach.
SHCC is the first WELL Certified Platinum higher education facility in the nation, highlighting its innovative design and commitment to occupant health.
Project Leaders
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Marc LeBrun
Principal-in-Charge & Project Manager