RDG Planning & Design was engaged by Creighton University to set the strategic vision and subsequent design for the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Health Sciences Building in Phoenix, Arizona.

The campus, which is located along Central Avenue in Midtown Phoenix, marks a significant expansion of the University’s presence in Arizona and reflects its commitment to meeting the growing need for healthcare professionals across the country. The seven-level Health Sciences Campus will enroll nearly 900 students, including future physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, pharmacists and physician assistants by 2025.

RDG’s design for the campus takes inspiration from Creighton’s education ethos, “Cura Personalis” (care for the whole person), to create spaces that emphasize occupants’ physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The design uses active learning spaces and simulation labs to engage the mind, interconnecting staircases to promote physical movement, and natural views, daylighting and open communal spaces to support emotional and social health. Sustainable design elements, including a high-performance façade and outdoor well-being spaces, respond to the natural surroundings to enhance the learning environment and emphasize collaborative pedagogy. RDG completed the project in collaboration with Butler Design Group and Plaza Companies.

Design: RDG Planning & Design
Architect of Record: Butler Design Group
Contractor: Okland Construction Company
Photography: Michael Robinson