LOUMED : A 21st century Medical and Educational District in downtown Louisville
LOUMED Framework Plan . Credit Gamble Associates .
by NADARECA THIBEAUX & DAVID GAMBLE
The Louisville Medical & Education District , or LOUMED , is our city ’ s downtown home to four interconnected institutions : Jefferson Community & Technical College ( JCTC ), Norton Healthcare , University of Louisville Health Science Center and UofL Health . Together , LOUMED provides essential jobs , health care and education services for Louisville , the Commonwealth and beyond . This vital area operates 24 hours a day , 7 days a week , 365 days a year . It is a place where the lights never turn off and the doors never close . Like UPS and Ford , it never sleeps . LOUMED came into being after the Norton-associated Riggs Lewis first came up with this excellent idea .
The economic impact of LOUMED is immense . It employs over 16,000 individuals and attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year worldwide , with total salaries surpassing a billion dollars annually . With nearly 10 million square feet , LOUMED ’ s geography is also vast , comprising 20 city blocks that cover 250 acres . However , like most urban campuses , the district is difficult to find , and even more challenging to navigate once you get there . To make LOUMED a world class destination , in 2021 the LOUMED partners launched their effort by conducting an in-depth economic impact report , forming a nine-person board equally representing each partner and developing a framework for greater collaboration and dialogue .
Naturally , what makes LOUMED unique are our patients , providers and students who come here each day – so LOUMED engaged them on their needs right away . While the needs were many , safety , security and a redesigned infrastructure were priorities . Cleanliness , improved pedestrian accessibility and a desire to have affordable housing nearby were also discussed . Therefore , LOUMED ’ s 2023 Strategic Plan identified key priority projects that would address these needs , demonstrate impact and begin to form a cohesive campus character .
Until this point , the four individual institutions which constituted LOUMED simply shared a territory . They had not previously sought to project a shared vision or worked towards establishing a strong sense of common place . There was insufficient evidence of a cherished campus , taking pride in its setting and complete with vital connections to adjoining neighborhoods . It was not apparent how LOUMED might best grow over time , other than imagining the open parcels of land gradually filling up .
The first orders of business for a medical and education campus are enhancing the quality of medical care and teaching , strengthening institutional relationships , identifying the synergies inherent in cooperation and expanding research capabilities and funding – these are all underway . But these must be accompanied by a concern about how the physical environment within and surrounding
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