The Conway School of Nursing appropriately matches the scale and massing of neighboring buildings while embracing the Collegiate Gothic style that defines the Catholic University campus. | Photo Credit: Keith Issacs
By Lindsey Coulter听
The Catholic University of America鈥檚 newly completed Conway School of Nursing marks a milestone in the university鈥檚 mission to address the national nursing shortage. Designed by RAMSA (Robert A.M. Stern Architects) in collaboration with Ayers Saint Gross, and constructed by Clark Construction, the more than 102,000-square-foot facility represents a cornerstone of the university鈥檚 campus master plan and embodies the Conway School of Nursing ethos: 鈥淲here High Tech Meets High Touch.鈥�听
A Gateway Campus Hub听
The Conway School of Nursing will not only support the university鈥檚 goal of doubling enrollment in the nursing program over the next five to seven years, but it also听establishes听a new campus gateway for all students and visitors. The stately building replaces a former parking lot with a transformative academic hub that aligns with the university鈥檚 historic architecture while introducing advanced learning and sustainability features. Positioned at a prominent and highly visible site on the urban campus, the building was designed to be a new landmark, featuring a tower element that serves as both a visual and a symbolic entryway.听
Additionally, the building鈥檚 site plan and landscape design by Michael Vergason Landscape Architects and Ayers Saint Gross reinforce a cohesive campus framework. In addition to the tower feature, the exterior is defined by a cascading stair that links an upper-level student commons to the Trinity Fountain below and a north quadrangle framed by the John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library, Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies and McCort-Ward Hall.听
On the third floor, a terrace shaded by a timber pergola offers sweeping views across campus, including vistas of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to the west.听
Collegiate Gothic Design and Contextual Integration听
The Conway School of Nursing appropriately matches the scale and massing of neighboring buildings while embracing the Collegiate Gothic style that defines the Catholic University campus. The facility was designed to blend seamlessly with the university鈥檚 aesthetic of stone, clay roof听tiles听and bronze light fixtures.听
The building鈥檚 facade听showcases听a creative use of reclaimed granite, which was salvaged from Philadelphia鈥檚 Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, built in 1924 and demolished in 2009.听听
RAMSA developed a cost-effective precast panel system that integrated the salvaged stone into the modern building envelope. Each stone was split to create a flat face and then was adhered to custom precast concrete panels, producing a durable, modular cladding system that preserves the look of traditional hand-laid masonry. This technique transforms听the salvaged, century-old masonry into a durable, modular cladding system.听
鈥淚t was cool to see details that came from the old church 鈥� like the holes that were drilled into the stone for flagpoles,鈥� said Tony McConnell, Senior Associate with RAMSA, who led the precast effort. 鈥淲e chose to keep all those elements, so that as you walk around the building, you see these little follies you听wouldn鈥檛听expect on a brand-new facility. It feels authentic.鈥澨�听
To achieve an even higher level of authenticity and articulation, RAMSA also incorporated CNC-milled molds and rubber casting to replicate intricate stone patterns.听听
鈥淒etailing is challenging, but we detail our buildings to the nth degree,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥淲e want our traditional buildings to look like听they鈥檝e听been there for 100 years, and they need to fit into the context next to them. Poorly articulated details are a dead giveaway. Historically, precast听doesn鈥檛听like those details 鈥� it wants flat, simple things 鈥� but听we鈥檙e听seeing that it can do much more.鈥�听
The panels were then finished with traditional mortar, preserving the appearance of hand-laid stonework while听benefiting听from the efficiency, structural integrity and ease of installation offered by facade听panelization. This cost-effective fabrication and installation approach improved weather tightness and energy efficiency.听
The precast method had the听additional听benefit of making the project easier to complete on a tight urban site. As the busy main road in front of the building听couldn鈥檛听be shut down for any extended period, using precast significantly听expedited听the construction schedule and improved safety and efficiency.听听
鈥淲ith precast, we don鈥檛 have people climbing up and down scaffolding,” McConnell added. 鈥淎nytime we can reduce scaffolding, job sites are safer places.鈥�听
The creative reuse of existing materials also helped the facility achieve LEED Gold certification (it is also targeting WELL Silver), thanks to the incorporation of green roofs, stormwater management听systems听and bioretention facilities.听
Learn more about how the building blends tradition and technology while centering wellness (and fulfilling a vision that was first听established听in Catholic University鈥檚 2012 campus master plan) in the 听
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Project Name: The Catholic University of America Conway School of Nursing听
Area: 102,000 gross square feet听
Construction Cost: $62 million听
Architects: Ayers Saint Gross in collaboration with RAMSA (Robert A.M. Stern Architects)听
Landscape Architect: Michael Vergason Landscape Architects听听
Structural Engineer: Simpson听Gumpertz听& Heger听
MEP Engineer: Burdette, Koehler, Murphy & Associates听
Civil Engineer: Rummel, Klepper & Kahl听
Traffic Engineering: VHB听
Cost Estimating:听Forella听Group听
AV/IT/Security: Convergent Technologies Design Group听听
Code Consulting: GHD听
General Contractor: Clark Construction Group听
Precast Subcontractor: High Concrete Group听