Awards ― Health and Education
When completed in 2004, the School of Nursing and Student Community Center building at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston was the largest “green” academic building in the Southwest.
Designed by BNIM (Berkebile, Nelson, Immenschuh, and McDowell) Architects of Kansas City, Missouri, in collaboration with Lake|Flato Architects of San Antonio, the building received a LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold rating.
Awards for the building include:
- 2007, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Environmental Excellence Award Finalist: Small Business Category
- 2006, AIA/COTE (American Institute of Architects/Committee on the Environment), Top Ten Green Projects Award
- 2006, Texas Society of Architects, Honor Award
- 2006, Association of Energy Engineers, Region IV Energy Project of the Year
- 2005, AIA Houston, Honor Award, Architecture
- 2005, AIA Houston, Honor Award, Sustainability
- 2005, Environmental Design & Construction Magazine Excellence in Design Awards, Honorable Mention: Institutional, Nonprofit Organization, Educational, or Healthcare Category
- 2004, AIA, Central States, Merit Award
- 2004, AIA, Kansas, Design Award
- 2004, AIA/COTE Kansas City, Honor Award, Sustainable Design
- 2004, AIA Kansas City, Honor Award, Architecture
- 2004, AIA, San Antonio, Honor Award
Under the leadership of John Porretto, then Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the design of the nursing school building focused on energy efficiency, increased air quality, improved natural lighting, reduction of polluting emissions, and increased user productivity. The eight-story, $42-million facility encompasses 195,000 square feet.