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UNM Domenici Center for Health Science Education Opens Final Wing and Celebrates LEED Gold

The University of New Mexico has opened its third and final phase of the Domenici Center for Health Sciences Education. It’s the culmination of over 17 years of careful strategic planning to achieve UNM’s goal of serving all the Health Science Center’s education programs including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, health professions and public health.

The UNM Domenici Center North Wing addition creates a whole new entry façade and provides new active learning classrooms, space for the physical and occupational therapy programs, simulation labs, and areas for students to study and collaborate.

The 63,000sf addition incorporates a number of sustainable design features to create a healthy and energy-efficient learning environment, earning the building LEED Gold certification and signifying achievement in environmentally responsible design.

Sustainable design features include: 

• Electrochromic glazing, which provides thermal and solar control and reduces energy costs by electronically tinting based on the amount of sun exposure.
• UNM’s first chilled-beam mechanical system that efficiently heats and cools the building.
• A photovoltaic system on the roof, producing one-third of the building’s energy.
• Convenient, prominent stairs and access to exercise options to support people’s health and physical activity.

The Domenici Center for Health Sciences Education was designed and built in phases to allow maximum use of the existing facility before completion. Dekker/Perich/Sabatini was the architect for all three phases of the Health Education Center, and HB Construction was the contractor for the final phase.