EDITORIAL
New medical center strikes right balance
When architects brainstormed the look of the new University of Hawai'i medical school, the last thing they wanted was another Honolulu fortress of steel and glass.
Still, the center had to be sufficiently state-of-the-art to accommodate diverse scientific needs. So their challenge was to blend high-tech with a Hawaiian sense of place.
They certainly took their best shot. The complex at Kaka'ako's Waterfront Park strikes a balance between clinical and hospitable. Phase one, which includes a research building and education building, is set to open next year. Even in its unfinished state, with hanging wires, exposed pipes and scaffolding, it's an improvement along the jumbled Kaka'ako waterfront.
The concrete on the outside of the buildings is etched with Hawaiian-style kapa patterns of rain and rivers as well as DNA strands. Hawaiian healing plants are etched on the windows of the Medical Education Building, and are also to be incorporated in the landscaping.
A cafeteria and a fitness and childcare center face a fountain-centered courtyard on the makai side of the building, creating a "gathering place."
Mind you, we're not talking architectural feats along the lines of the Sydney Opera House or the Auditorio de Tenerife, or even the State Capitol or the Hawai'i Convention Center.
The new UH medical center demands function over style. Plus, it gets high marks for sustainability. The buildings are cooled by saltwater pumped from a well 800 feet below, and the windows are equipped with shelves that provide shade while reflecting natural light back into the work areas. That saves on climate control and lighting costs.
Naturally, the research building will be secured. And while the education building will be more accessible, it's geared mostly for students and faculty. Thankfully, the gathering area is open to the public. For us all to truly feel a stake in the success of the medical center, we must all feel welcome there. So far, it looks like the center's right on track.
