Blog Series 2 of 6: Belmont University’s Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine

Designed by architectural firm Earl Swensson Associates (ESa) and constructed by R.C. Mathews Contractor, this six-story, 198,000-square-foot facility features Tubelite 400 Series Curtainwall and custom wide stile doors, installed by Alexander Metals. Tubelite curtainwall and entrance systems were finished by Linetec to provide exceptional durability and performance, ideal for the heavy traffic and continuous use required by educational facilities.

Students arriving at the College of Medicine have the choice of a split entry. They can pass through Tubelite doors either on Wedgewood Avenue’s first floor entrance or on Acklen Avenue’s second floor entrance. Beyond the entrance and the lobby, the lower levels contain two-tiered learning theaters, a café and smaller classroom spaces.

The third and fourth levels have a Center for Interprofessional Engagement and Simulation, which offers immersive learning with advanced labs and fully simulated settings with patient volunteers. An anatomy suite for hands-on learning is on the fifth floor, as well as a library and terrace. Offices are located on the top floors and are organized in 10 Harry Potter-themed “houses,” which are increasingly adopted by medical school students.

Named in honor of Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr, co-founder of HCA Healthcare, the building is near existing nursing, pharmacy and health science buildings. According to ESa architects, the new facility extends the campus health and wellness corridor, offering an interprofessional educational experience for the fast-growing university.

Supporting the well-being of its students, staff and surroundings, all of Belmont University’s new construction are designed and built to meet LEED certification sustainability standards. Geothermal systems’ renewable energy sources are used for efficient heating and cooling. The campus is designated as an Arboretum and USA Tree Campus combining water-conscious irrigation with ecologically diverse greenspaces.