IMC
COLLEGE
Type
Educational
Location
Jeddah, KSA
Year
2021
Status
Schematic
Scope
Architecture, Interior, Landscape
"Learning by Design: Crafting the Future of Education Where Architecture Creates Learning Environments"
The state-of-the-art Health Sciences College in Jeddah, designed with a focus on "Learning by Design," integrates modern architectural elements with thoughtful functionality to create an optimal environment for education and research. Developed in collaboration with an international firm, the facility comprises new Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, fostering a collaborative atmosphere for teaching, training, and research. The lower part of the building features an inner courtyard that serves as a central prayer space, designed with different levels so students and everyone in the building can join the prayer from various floors. These levels also create vibrant student life areas and pleasurable transitions from one floor to another. The upper part of the building has an open courtyard that showcases the dome from the lower prayer space, highlighting it as the jewel of the building. The design includes lush green terraces, offering serene and inspiring areas for students and faculty. These terraces provide multiple functions that support student life, including a student community area, a two-floor library, and other amenities. The views toward the adjacent IMC Hospital and IMC Gardens further enhance the campus's holistic and integrated approach to health sciences education.
"Meant to invoke a sense of a welcoming experience to all"
The building’s architecture exterior design is inspired by the overall project concept of “Learning by Design”. It’s meant to invoke a sense of a welcoming experience to all students, visitors, and faculty. The grand entry on the center of the North-East Façade has leading steps into a large opening that is flanked by light wells supply sunlight to the underground parking. At top of the main entry is a half dome surrounded by large windows extending a view to IMC’s Garden that establishes a connection between the exterior and interior environment. The building corners play a significant role in the building expression, with the North corner facing the existing IMC hospital and providing not only a visual connection but a planned bridged connection in the future. The South corner is aligned with Mecca and is designed to host a palm tree which is holds strong meaning in the Islamic culture and KSA.
The building’s exterior cladding is primarily a natural stone veneer, chosen because of its durability, permanence, and beauty. Additional materials on the exterior supplement the functionality and performance of the building’s facades. Metal sunscreens adorn the South-East façade to provide shading into the circulation spaces located around the perimeter of the building. Sunscreens on the North-West façade will allow privacy and will mitigate sun shading during the late even during the summer months.
"The buildings form is a direct reflection of its internal functions"
The buildings form and articulation are derived from a sense of discovery and a direct reflection of the functions that take place inside the building. The undulation of the various levels of the building creates a variety of spaces for students and faculty that are multi-functional. There are outdoor terraces, indoor seating areas, as well as vertical circulation connecting classroom levels.
The building façade incorporates planters around the building on multiple levels that allow vegetation to be visible and near all the users of the building. This landscape component is ever present on the exterior and interior of the building and further extended to the central terrace levels of the building.
The terrace levels of the building are designed to be an oasis where students, and staff can take a respite from the daily activities and have a space that is protected from the elements to enjoy time outdoors as needed. It is anchored the Jamea’s Dome as the center piece that filters light inside the building.
The IMC Medical College is designed to be a beacon of knowledge, a place of inspiration, and strong spiritual connection.
