The Commonwealth Medical College, which will be the first medical school built in Pennsylvania in more than four decades, broke ground on their Medical Sciences Building on August 19. Located in Scranton, the 185,000-sq.-ft. Medical Sciences Building was designed by the New York office of HOK, in association with Clarks Summit, Penn.-based Highland Associates. The Commonwealth Medical College's Medical Sciences Building is slated for completion by 2011. Currently, the college is a candidate for accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the governing body which grants accreditation to medical schools in the United States.

"This new institution will be on the forefront of education in its approach to teaching medicine," says Jim Berge, director of science & technology at HOK New York. "We are proud that our design will support Dr. D'Alessandri's goals for a learning and research environment that inspires hope and optimism. The building design like the medical program embraces its historical roots while providing its students the cutting edge tools they will need as they shape the future of care giving."

"The planning and design goals for The Commonwealth Medical College were developed through a collaborative process, engaging core principles of medical education and research. The project reflects the mission and values of the institution, creating a timeless and inspirational design that embraces the rich history of Scranton," says Ben Suzuki, principal of science & technology at HOK New York.

Fulfilling the area's increasing demand for doctors, The Commonwealth Medical College's Medical Sciences Building will serve more than 500 students and 175 full-time equivalent faculty members, plus support personnel. The non-hospital affiliated medical school will partner with health science programs throughout the region, offering students a variety of educational experiences.
 
"This state of the art facility will not only provide an ideal learning environment for our students but will also be an inspiration to the community," says Dr.  D'Alessandri, president and dean of The Commonwealth Medical College.

In designing the medical college, HOK shaped the physical planning of the educational program by pairing the versatile biomedical laboratories with other highly technical components, such as a gross anatomy lab, simulation rooms and standardized patients' rooms to achieve an operational and mechanical efficiency.  
 
The west research wing and east educational wing will surround a shared courtyard that will effectively create a campus setting. The linkage between the two buildings will act as the central hub of the campus where students can gather and socialize at the grand porch, courtyard and café. To the east, public ground floor spaces include additional student common areas, a bookstore and lobby for the 250 seat auditorium.  
 
The new buildings will also incorporate principals of sustainable development, including rainwater collection that will be used for the gardens and indigenous plantings. Heat recovery, CO2 sensing, occupancy sensors, high performance glazing, integrated daylight control through honeycombed transom glazing, and the use of local stone will contribute to the overall "green" aspects of the design scheme.
 
The Commonwealth Medical College has applied for provisional accreditation by the LCME and is currently under review. It is expected that a decision regarding provisional accreditation will be made in October, 2008. The College cannot accept applications for admission at this time.