the campus supports such primary needs . The Strategic Plan signals that this is the desired objective for the partners , and also suggests how these might be achieved over time as the institutions grow and the dimensions of their collaborations expand .
Many individual projects are already occurring within the campus boundaries at an institutional level - such as the development of JCTC ’ s “ Jefferson Rising ” plan , and the UofL Health Sciences Center Master Plan with Sasaki Associates . Norton Healthcare is re-skinning the Medical Towers buildings , and UofL Health broke ground in 2022 on a state-of-the-art seven story clinical tower . The master planning effort weaves these individual initiatives into a compelling physical vision centered around a new landscape which addresses an important issue - the campus lacks a signature space that all the institutions can share .
“ LOUMED Commons ” will be a one-acre active quad with a therapeutic garden . Located in the center of the campus between Preston and Chestnut Streets , the quad aligns the real estate of all four institutions . Part lush garden and part plaza , the one-acre outdoor space is both strategic and symbolic , located along Chestnut Street which connects Jefferson on the west to UofL Health on the east and touches properties by Norton Healthcare and the University Health Sciences Center . The one-acre space is created by removing a former correctional facility that has been vacant for years and transforming it into a space of healing and reflection . The garden will be designed first and foremost with sustainability in mind . Overhead canopies address heat islands and water filtration , taking a site that is 90 % impervious and making it 50 % green with large caliper trees and local , native grasses . Community-based art will be installed throughout .
“ LOUMED Commons ” will be a remarkable , shared open space for the growing health care , education and research campus downtown . The landscape builds on the work that the individual LOUMED partners have already accomplished , planning and securing outdoor gathering spaces , plazas and drop-off areas on their respective properties . These existing “ pocket parks ” form the seeds of the framework for navigating the area , better connecting into a campus-wide network with “ LOUMED Commons ” at the heart .
The campus deserves a lovely environment commensurate with its topnotch care , research and education . In addition to the signature space , the Strategic Plan improves both the realities and perceptions of public safety , making the campus easier to access
Ground level view conceptual design for LOUMED Gardens ( 2022 ). Credit Gamble Associates .
with improved wayfinding and signage and easier circulation for pedestrians and vehicles . The plan leverages the existence of these institutional spaces and reinforces the pathways between them .
Imagine then , a medical and education center that offers :
- a safe , clean , well-maintained and well-lit environment
- a memorable public space network
- ample and easily accessible parking areas
- a compelling sense of place
- strong ties to adjacent neighborhoods with places to live , eat and shop
- shared facilities and spaces , and most importantly ,
- an image that befits the educational , medical and scientific achievements that occur within its boundaries 365 days a year .
LOUMED is on the move to make this downtown district a world-class destination for healing and learning and a powerhouse for Louisville ’ s job attraction . Now is the time to rethink and revitalize the heartbeat of Louisville , because what it is today , is NOT what it will be tomorrow .
For more information on LOUMED , please visit https :// louisvillemedicaleducationdistrict . com /.
Nadareca Thibeaux is the executive director of LOUMED and has 28 years of experience leading large system-wide strategic initiatives in health systems , including U of L Health , Norton Healthcare and University of California – San Diego Medical Center . ( non-member )
David Gamble is a Lecturer in Urban Design and Planning in the Department of Urban Studies at MIT and is an architect and urban planner and Principal of Gamble Associates , based in Cambridge , Massachusetts . The firm focuses on urban revitalization and community development . ( non-member )
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