Warner Pacific University, Nursing School
Portland, Oregon

Located on the South edge of Mt. Tabor Park in Portland, the new Nursing and Academic Building at Warner Pacific University features many thoughtful interior spaces that prioritize both functionality, aesthetics and the user experience. The building combines a classroom wing, an administrative wing, and a central atrium which serves as the primary social space for the building as well as the primary pathway into the heart of the campus.

WPU leadership had determined the new building’s location early in the design process, which made clear right away the most important issue:  how the building’s placement could be turned into an advantage for campus vitality.  The planning solution was to integrate a wide diagonal pathway through the building volume which would follow the line of sight from the pedestrian drop-off point toward the entrance to Egtvegt Hall, which is the center of campus life.  This diagonal pathway then became the opportunity for a lobby, a social space, cafe, lounge and atrium.

The total building area is 43,000 square feet and includes a nurse training suite, skills lab, 8 classrooms, testing room, administrative suite, student lounge and roof terrace.  Design work provided for architecture firm.