Sterling Hall of Medicine Library Renovation

New Haven, CT

14,000 sq ft

Apicella + Bunton’s design for the Yale School of Medicine includes adaptable, high-tech classrooms, flexible meeting rooms and diverse support spaces that address the growing needs and advances in medical education.

The centerpiece of the renovation is a new 126-seat team-based learning classroom. This state-of-the-art teaching space replaced a library reading room and study space from the late 1980s. Extensive audiovisual systems were developed and integrated with the architecture to serve new teaching methods at the medical school. Additionally, eight breakout classrooms were added, converting underutilized stack space.

Classrooms feature moveable partitions that allow for each room to double in size and accommodate larger classes or special events. Apicella + Bunton created collaborative workstations, lounge spaces, interactive meeting rooms, and a sound-isolated video production room.

Finishes include warm wood tones of white oak and colorful fabric wrapped acoustical panels. Custom-designed, patterned films were applied to the glass and aluminum window walls creating obscured, textured and layered views into the classrooms. Comprehensive LED lighting design throughout creates bright and inviting spaces for students, staff and library patrons alike.

Apicella + Bunton worked closely with the construction team to overcome significant logistical challenges of the renovation. Removal of structural book stacks required the design and insertion of a new steel skeleton at the lower level. Detailed and intensive monitoring as well as creative approaches to the construction phasing allowed the library to operate uninterrupted during construction.

2020 Connecticut Building Congress Project Team Merit Award
2020 ABC CT Excellence in Construction Award, First Place in Renovation

Yale School of Medicine News “Medical Library Unveils Newly Renovated Facilities”

Harvey Cushing / John Hay Whitney Medical Library Blog “Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Officially Opens Newly Renovated Spaces”

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