University of the Pacific selects SmithGroupJJR to design new Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

University of the Pacific has selected SmithGroupJJR, one of the country’s leading architecture, engineering and planning firms, to provide architectural services for a new dental school campus in San Francisco’s South of Market district.

The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry will be relocating its operations to a newly acquired, seven-story building at 155 Fifth Street. The facility’s first five floors will house the dental school and classrooms for other future University programs. Remaining space will be leased to others. The university has occupied space at 2155 Webster Street in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood since 1967.

“This new facility allows University of the Pacific to strategically expand its footprint in San Francisco by providing a highly visible and accessible presence downtown,” said Pamela A. Eibeck, president of University of the Pacific. “It will provide a distinctive new home for our dental school and also allow us to offer additional high-quality academic programs to people in the Bay Area.”

The 395,000 gsf building will undergo a comprehensive renovation, including a complete replacement of the exterior facade and interior spaces, and is expected to open in mid-2014.

The new building will contain simulation laboratories, classrooms, research and support space for the dental school, and will also accommodate clinical changes and technology enhancements to support patient care.

“We have ingrained the design with architectural characteristics that support holistic education, active learning, and professional polish – all of which thrive at the Dugoni School of Dentistry,” said Marianne O’Brien, AIA, LEED AP, principal at SmithGroupJJR’s San Francisco office. “In this building, University of the Pacific will set the new standard for dental education, from the patient-focused clinical spaces to the team-based learning and faculty office spaces.”

The facility is targeting LEED Gold certification, in accordance with local building code requirements.

Total cost of the building purchase and renovation is expected to be $151 million. The University will subsidize the program through a fundraising campaign, revenues from commercial leases, and the sale of its two Pacific Heights properties.

San Francisco-based Plant Construction Company will serve as the general contractor. Nova Partners, Inc., of Palo Alto, will provide project management services.

Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is committed to excellence in humanistic education, patient care and the discovery of new knowledge. It is among the most selective dental schools in the United States, with more than 500 students enrolled in six programs that include Doctorate of Dental Surgery, Orthodontics, and International Dental Studies. The school employs more than 500 faculty and staff.

Pacific Dugoni operates public clinics in San Francisco, Union City and Stockton that offer quality, affordable dental services to nearly 14,000 children and adults each year. The new building in downtown San Francisco will serve 10,000 patients each year.

University of the Pacific
University of the Pacific is a nationally ranked institution with a long tradition of dedicated teaching, small class sizes, practical experience and a vibrant residential life. Founded in 1851, Pacific is the oldest University in California. Total enrollment is nearly 7,000.

SmithGroupJJR
SmithGroupJJR’s higher education portfolio encompasses expertise in the programming and design of specialized project types ranging from dental schools, law schools and laboratories, to a variety of fusion facilities. With 10 locations and nearly 800 employees across the U.S., the firm has been nationally recognized by learning organizations including the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), and the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). Recent noteworthy projects include the University of Detroit Mercy’s 145,000 gsf School of Dentistry, Detroit, Mich.; expansion and renovation of New York Law School’s campus in lower Manhattan; and the University of Louisville’s award-winning Clinical & Translational Research Building in Louisville, Ky.

SmithGroupJJR (www.smithgroupjjr.com) is one of the largest architecture, engineering and planning firms in the U.S., ranked #1 for design quality based on design awards won in Architect magazine’s 2011 annual best firms ranking. The firm is also the recipient of the 2011 Landscape Architecture Firm Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects. A national leader in sustainable design, SmithGroupJJR has 354 LEED professionals and 72 LEED certified projects

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