New Administrative Facility Helps Unite Staff
At first glance, Houstonians may think an ocean liner has moored near the banks of Brays Bayou.
The building at the corner of Braeswood Boulevard and Bertner Avenue is a mix of curves and strong lines, glass and granite, resonating with nautical undertones.
And at 25 stories, it’s a striking addition to the Texas Medical Center skyline.
Its construction allows MD Anderson to vacate eight leased spaces and unite much of its administrative staff in one place.
Course for innovation
From the beginning, institutional leadership and the planners, architects and builders of the MD Anderson Mid Campus 1 Building (1MC) charted a course for innovation.
Contemporary interior design, environmental sustainability and technological advances combine to make the first building on the Mid Campus a structure worthy of MD Anderson’s mission.
From the lobby to the abundant break rooms, 1MC is light, bright and spacious. But the most notable interior feature is its open office design.
Though traditional offices line the interior corridors of Floors 5-24, more than 75% of 1MC features open office space to encourage a sense of community, communication and collaboration.
Lowered walls allow natural light to penetrate the center of the building. The colors are new, too: Bold, vibrant hues are in.
“We surveyed the tenant groups about many aspects of the interior finishes and spaces,” says Lawrence Kubacak, project director in the Department of Capital Planning and Management. “The paint and carpet colors are a few of the interior finishes that reflect their feedback, as well as input from senior leadership.”
Going green
The building boasts several green initiatives:
- Sun screens deflect light on the east and west elevations while an automated lighting system adjusts the brightness of overhead lights.
- A condensate catch system collects water generated as a byproduct of the building’s mechanical systems and uses it to irrigate the building’s landscaping, saving nearly 170,000 gallons of equivalent city water annually.
Several departments have moved into the new building, with more to take up residency in 2012.
