Health Sciences Center Master Plan

The Master Plan envisions one concept for our physical environment and infrastructure needs over the next two decades. It considers hundreds of variables, many of which may change. By taking into account all of these possibilities we will retain flexibility for the Health Sciences Center so that no matter what changes take place, UofL is prepared to be a world-class academic medical center.

Achieving a World-Class Academic Medical Center

The University of Louisville Health Sciences Center master plan will help us achieve a world-class academic medical center that meets the challenge of new discoveries, new technologies and the changing health-care landscape not only for the citizens of Louisville, but for Kentucky, the region and beyond. To do this we will create a physical environment that facilitates multidimensional collaboration and interdisciplinary interchange focused on bringing the benefits of new scientific knowledge to patients, students and the health-care professions.

Patient Care

The HSC master plan shows how we are putting patients first by creating a welcoming physical environment, more tangible campus boundaries, easier navigation by car and on foot, prioritized patient parking and a state-ofthe- art faculty practice facility. The plan calls for more resources for patients, families and visitors including retail outlets, more accessible entrances, patient pick-up and drop-off areas and a more attractive urban environment.

Research

Research space is a key factor in attracting and retaining top researchers and their teams. The right kind of research facilities are essential for moving new knowledge from the laboratory bench to the patient bedside. In addition to bioscienceenabled laboratories, this includes technologyenabled buildings, infrastructure for high-throughput computer analyses, collaborative laboratories, shared research resources such as proteomics and genomics, and appropriate spaces for patients participating in clinical trials. Flexible space may be needed for research commercialization, business incubators and entrepreneurial activity that brings scientific and medical discoveries to the marketplace.

Education

Students learn from contact with faculty and peers in the classroom and in more informal settings. The campus master plan envisions a central quadrangle that has grass and trees instead of concrete and steel, more places where students can gather and study in groups and more comfortable spaces. The plan considers our need for classroom spaces, learning centers and collaborative spaces, not just in terms of educating enough doctors, nurses, dentists, public health professionals and life scientists to meet the future needs of our communities, but also in terms of how technology is changing the way we teach and learn.