Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

Educating the next generation of leaders in medicine

Client: Kaiser Permanente
Location: Pasadena, California, United States
Size: 80,000 square feet
Status: Completed; LEED Gold Certified

Kaiser Permanente sought to create a new type of medical school where scientific curiosity, empathy, well-being, holistic care and social justice could collide. They weren't interested in traditional pedagogy, and without the supporting amenities of a university campus, they needed to include all the components required for premier medical education within a single building.

Our Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign partnered with Kaiser Permanente to reimagine the traditional medical school typology with an exploratory laboratory in medical education. The vertical campus builds on the most innovative practices in medical education today—and gives students the opportunity to learn in Kaiser Permanente’s integrated healthcare system, with access to its physicians, facilities, care teams, data and technology. Wrapped in the high-tech building are groundbreaking learning spaces that foster a collaborative approach to care, immersive experiences and a deep connection to the communities served.

With its stacked glass-and-concrete facade, the four-story building sits prominently on a corner site in Pasadena.

004997 00 N13 Cdwebsite — With its stacked glass-and-concrete facade, the four-story building sits prominently on a corner site in Pasadena.

We challenge the way medical education is taught. Equity, inclusion and diversity are built into the curriculum. A good doctor understands that patients have various lives that they come from, but no matter what cultural background, we want all patients to be seen as the same.

Walter Harris Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance at Kaiser Permanente

The building's central atrium promotes themes of transparency and inclusiveness. Large stadium-seating risers establish an informal auditorium, which can be enclosed for events and lectures.

004997 00 N42 Cdwebsite — The building's central atrium promotes themes of transparency and inclusiveness. Large stadium-seating risers establish an informal auditorium, which can be enclosed for events and lectures.

Classrooms, offices and lounge areas overlook the central atrium, which rises 50 feet and links other floors by a wide stairway.

004997 00 N18 Cdwebsite — Classrooms, offices and lounge areas overlook the central atrium, which rises 50 feet and links other floors by a wide stairway.

Learning spaces are diverse, dynamic and highly adaptable, allowing for every type of teaching and learning imaginable.

004997 00 N47 Cdwebsite — Learning spaces are diverse, dynamic and highly adaptable, allowing for every type of teaching and learning imaginable.

004997 00 N67 Cdwebsite — Learning spaces are diverse, dynamic and highly adaptable, allowing for every type of teaching and learning imaginable.

004997 00 N12 Cdwebsite 1 — Learning spaces are diverse, dynamic and highly adaptable, allowing for every type of teaching and learning imaginable.

Designing a new paradigm

Our team’s re-evaluation of administrative and other areas freed up more than 50 percent of the building to be programmed as flexible, almost hospitality-like zones for students to study, work out or even meditate. This is a far cry from the 8-18 percent of "student life" square footage in the precedent buildings reviewed during the design process.

Read Metropolis magazine's profile of the medical school

More than 50 percent of the building is programmed as flexible, with multifunctional areas that can serve as social spaces or pop-up classrooms.

004997 00 N8 Cdwebsite — More than 50 percent of the building is programmed as flexible, with multifunctional areas that can serve as social spaces or pop-up classrooms.

The various rooftop zones, many of which are open-air, include a theater, a gym and a cafeteria with a full teaching kitchen.

004997 00 N7 Cdwebsite — The various rooftop zones, many of which are open-air, include a theater, a gym and a cafeteria with a full teaching kitchen.

004997 00 N29 Cdwebsite — The various rooftop zones, many of which are open-air, include a theater, a gym and a cafeteria with a full teaching kitchen.

004997 00 N30 Cdwebsite — The various rooftop zones, many of which are open-air, include a theater, a gym and a cafeteria with a full teaching kitchen.

It is an evolving model that makes a feedback loop between education and practice, and is responsive to the real world. Because this isn’t an academic campus, we needed multifunctional spaces that could be social spaces but also classrooms, places for student rest and contemplation.

Mehrdad Yazdani Design Principal and Director of Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign

The design team brought ingenuity to each and every space, maximizing views, transparency and opportunities for both connectivity and reflection.

004997 00 N63 Cdwebsite — The design team brought ingenuity to each and every space, maximizing views, transparency and opportunities for both connectivity and reflection.

004997 00 N11 Cdwebsite — The design team brought ingenuity to each and every space, maximizing views, transparency and opportunities for both connectivity and reflection.

004997 00 N9 Cdwebsite — The design team brought ingenuity to each and every space, maximizing views, transparency and opportunities for both connectivity and reflection.

The Science of Speed sculpture, created by artist Glenn Kaino, hangs as part of a building-wide art program. The 45-foot-long artwork depicts multiple casts of the arm of runner Tommie Smith, who famously raised his fist in protest against racism and inequality at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

004997 00 N60 Cdwebsite — The Science of Speed sculpture, created by artist Glenn Kaino, hangs as part of a building-wide art program. The 45-foot-long artwork depicts multiple casts of the arm of runner Tommie Smith, who famously raised his fist in protest against racism and inequality at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

Ultimately, the building redefines medical education, preparing a new generation of physicians to influence positive change within hospitals, homes, schools, workplaces and communities at large.