2024
Seeking to remedy a shortfall of nurses in the United States, the Conway School of Nursing aims to double its enrollment over the next five to seven years. Its new home supports that goal by expanding its current footprint to establish a prominent campus gateway.
Marking an important entrance to the campus at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and University Drive, the new 102,275-square-foot building, designed by RAMSA in collaboration with Ayers Saint Gross, appropriately matches the scale and massing of its neighbors, while its Collegiate Gothic design blends seamlessly with the architectural character of Catholic University’s campus.
A prominent entry tower with a pedestrian underpass welcomes students and visitors, while a cascading stair connects the terrace outside the second-level student commons with both the Trinity Fountain below and a north quadrangle flanking the Mullen Library, the Crow Center for Architecture, and the McCort-Ward buildings. A third-floor terrace with a heavy timber pergola offers views of the campus and the campanile of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to the west.
Inside, the building offers state-of-the-art learning spaces infused with cutting-edge technology and organized for collaboration and team-based learning, including a 266-seat, tiered auditorium; a 78-seat, tiered classroom; science labs, simulation labs, office spaces, student lounges and other social spaces. Large windows offer students views across campus while bringing in natural light.
Certified LEED Gold, the design supports the Conway School’s commitment to environmental stewardship and community wellness. Sustainably built with reclaimed granite stone from two demolished churches in the Philadelphia region, the design implements a cost-effective panelized façade system. Façade details include light fixtures made from antique bronze and aluminum-framed windows. This future-proofed design, which also includes stormwater management systems, a bioretention facility, and green roofs, reflects the Conway School’s forward-thinking mission to prepare the next generation of nurses for the 21st Century.
