Oakland University retained the Fishbeck + SLAM team to perform a study of the William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB SOM) academic space in O’Dowd Hall and develop design strategies that provide more collaborative (problem-based) and independent study spaces to maintain compliance with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation.
The scope of the study involved a review of the OUWB’s current instructional space in O’Dowd Hall; identification of space deficiencies, including mid-sized instructional space and more break-out areas for independent work; and development of options to improve the spaces through renovation and align them with LCME’s more interactive instructional requirements. This included the facilitation of a visioning work session with the OUWB SOM’s leadership to discuss trends in medical education, benchmarking, and aligning space with pedagogical goals. Approximately 9,000 sf on Level 1 is proposed to be renovated to include new classrooms, informal instructional and touch-down space, and new unisex toilet rooms.
A significant secondary goal for this investigation was to create an enhanced entrance space, referred to as a “gateway” that improves visible access to the OUWB SOM at O’Dowd Hall on campus and is more functional for all visitors and occupants. A reception area, 24-hour/7-day-a-week security station, and improved wayfinding are included in the design concept. A proposed 2-story entrance addition will offer an opportunity for securing areas of Levels 1 and 2 and offer after-hours access for medical school students, improving functionality, operations, and connecting the Level 1 academic space with the Level 2 SOM student lounge/break area.
