Tufts University School of Dental Medicine's Vertical Expansion, designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, was recently recognized by the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) and the New England Chapter of International Interior Design Association (IIDA) with two design awards. The Expansion was awarded the Honor Award for Healthcare Facilities by the BSA and Best Education Design by IIDA New England.
The general contractor was Shawmut Design and Construction.
The Tufts project also won "Best Practice Awards: Medium Project," given annually by the Boston chapter of the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), and also achieved LEED Silver Certification.
"We are honored to receive awards from both the BSA and the IIDA," said Rob Quigley, AIA, a principal at ARC who led the design team for the project.
The building, located at One Kneeland St. in Chinatown, officially opened late last year after a 22-month vertical expansion development in one of the city's most densely-populated neighborhoods. The five-story, 95,000 s/f vertical addition was added on top of the existing 10-story Tufts University School of Dental Medicine building built in 1972.
The top five floors recently added include two new clinical patient floors, an expanded simulation laboratory, teaching facilities, a continuing education conference center and administrative offices.
Designed to integrate contemporary forms and materials within the framework of the existing pre-cast concrete building, the expansion's transparent glass exterior façade not only results in a dramatic new image for the school but also provides the added benefit of incorporating significant day-lighting strategies for the building's interior, all of which are designed to save energy and add to the sustainable characteristics of the design.