International Medical Center College of Medical Sciences

The Challenge

The International Medical Center (IMC) College of Medical Sciences aspires to be a leading school of medicine, nursing, and allied health and differentiate itself with a focus on holistic medical and allied health education. The training offered at IMC equips students to provide comprehensive patient careusing new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies with a pioneering approach of healing the body, mind and soul. The challenge for the project was to integrate the notion of “healing by design” and infuse local architectural and cultural character with high-performance design strategies to create a state-of-the-art environment for advanced health education.

The Design Solution

The new IMC College of Medical Sciences provides collaborative teaching, training and research environments designed to support students, educators and health professionals. Inspired design and functional planning unite the technical, educational, and scientific needs of interprofessional education, and the exterior design reflects the local environment and cultural heritage.

The building is designed for comfort and high-performance in Jeddah’s desert climate. The façade, inspired by local architectural traditions, features openings that enable wind to cool terraces, and corridors around the perimeter promote natural ventilation. Based on deep analysis of daylight and energy performance, and guided by LEED best practices, the team implemented solar strategies such as shading on the south side and open glazing and balconies on the north side. The building’s orientation maximizes views towards the IMC primary hospital and gardens, enhancing connections between the students and the larger campus.

Interior planning is centered around a large spiritual space called Al Jamea that is physically and visually connected to all seven levels of the building. The ground floor has a grand entry, student bookstore and community wellness clinic as well as training labs, a simulation suite, a clinical exam suite, and anatomy labs. Throughout the rest of the building, additional labs, technologically advanced classrooms and hubs, administrative, faculty, and staff offices, an auditorium and a two-level library comprise a well-rounded array of educational spaces. Upper floors have amenities including a roof terrace, a full-size volleyball court, sporting and relaxation areas, dining facilities and a teaching kitchen.

The Design Impact

The IMC College of Medical Sciences is a unique facility that offers diverse learning environments, support spaces, and services under one roof to support a comprehensive approach to healthcare education and lifelong learning. The project is intended to be a place where the next generation of healthcare leaders can collaborate, learn together and seek interprofessional development among their different disciplines. The design serves as a gateway that invites the community in and enables students to give back, propelling IMC College of Medical Sciences’ vision for cultivating compassionate and intellectual leaders who practice healthcare with the highest levels of integrity.