CO Architects

08/13/2025

Seamless Spaces: In addition to its state-of-the-art healthcare treatment facilities, Palomar Health Medical Center is known for its iconic outdoor spaces, including a large green roof. Planted with drought-tolerant succulents, the roof connects patients with nature while integrating into the building's structural and mechanical performance as well as the stormwater management system. Gardens at three points on each patient floor further drive the connection to the outdoors to all building inhabitants while providing solar protection for adjacent public spaces. Explore this project here: https://bit.ly/47r0GYs

08/12/2025

We are excited to share that City of Hope's Hope Plaza is a Design Showcase Award of Merit winner! It is an honor to share this achievement with our partner, EwingCole and be recognized for Hope Plaza's design excellence and emphasis on patient-centered cancer care. Check out Healthcare Design for insights on the design strategy and the inspiration behind this building.

Hope Plaza was awarded a Design Showcase Award of Merit from Healthcare Design which recognizes CO and our partners at…

08/07/2025

Seamless Spaces: Taking cues from the nearby San Gabriel Mountains and the area's alluvial plains and river wash, Hope Plaza offers inspired outdoor spaces that welcome patients, families and healthcare practitioners. Designed with landscape architect, MIG, The Ted Swartz Family Hope & Healing Park includes gardens, sculptures and shaded pavilions. These spaces of gathering and reflection support City of Hope's compassionate and patient-centric approach to care.

📍Duarte, California

07/29/2025

Seamless Spaces: Kansas City University's Center for Medical Education Innovation highlights and enhances the spacious quad that surrounds the building. The large roof overhang and third-floor terrace provide shaded outdoor gathering areas that promote year-round access. Diverse spaces from the more intimate lower-level patio to open lawns and gardens provide space for large-scale gatherings and small moments of reflection. To bring the outside in and enable a wide range of simulated training scenarios, the flexible simulation deck extends the quad via moving glass partitions.

📍Kansas City, MO

07/24/2025

Read the latest article in Tradeline to learn about the hybrid future for medical and health education buildings. Hear from Scott Kelsey, Jonathan Kanda and Benjamin Bye where they contribute insight on ways integrated spaces foster community while building a knowledge-hub on campus. Learn about designing for this typology, CO's medical education projects and more in this feature.

Check out the latest feature in Tradeline to learn why truly integrated learning environments are future of medical and health…

07/22/2025

Join CO's Andrew Labov and Jennifer Swedell to learn best practices for vivarium design during this Lab Design News webinar. They'll walk viewers through everything from high-level considerations to small details, providing a comprehensive understanding of vivariums this Thursday, July 24th, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM PDT. Don't miss this free event!

Hear about best practices for designing vivariums this Thursday, July 24 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT. As complex,…

07/21/2025

Facade Focus: The "fifth facade" of the Student Services Building is its two-acre, standing-seam aluminum roof that also serves as the primary passive energy performance driver. The shape and orientation of the roof are driven purely by performance and function to optimize energy management, maximize daylight, and offer views to the surroundings. It also acts as a shading device for the curved building and the breezeway that connects its two wings. Additionally, the roof's edges are perforated to filter dappled sunlight, maximizing daylight while reducing glare in the building's interior.

07/18/2025

Join CO's James Simeo and Lauren Coles at their presentation for AIA|LA on all things licensure. Gain insight on how CO has assisted over 30 designers to achieve licensure and ways to implement similar programs at firms of all sizes. This hybrid event takes place online or at our Los Angeles office next Thursday, July 24 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM PDT. See you next week!

Join this hybrid event online or in CO’s Los Angeles office to learn the ins and outs of expanding and…

07/16/2025

To reinforce meaningful social connection at Columbia University School of Nursing, green space offers extensive areas to gather and unwind. With sweeping city skyline views, the rooftop terrace surrounds students and faculty with natural materials and extensive landscaping. Together with FXCollaborative, CO designed this space to support not only leading education in nursing but also occupant well-being and collaboration.

📍New York, New York

07/15/2025

Check out the latest feature in Architectural Record to see how UCI Health – Irvine harnesses AI and augmented reality. Simulations created using this cutting-edge technology informed design choices that shape the next generation of healthcare at UCI Health. Learn about the future of patient-centered design and more in this article.

UCI Health – Irvine is a pioneer in healthcare and design innovation. Learn how the design for this project utilizes…

07/11/2025

CO Architects is excited to present "Innovation in Medical Education: The HELIX Project at Rutgers University" at the annual Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) conference. Join CO's Jonathan Kanda, David Manfredi from Elkus Manfredi Architects and Dave Schulz from Rutgers University as they explore the transformative vision behind the HELIX Project—a pioneering mixed-use facility designed to unite medical education students, clinicians, researchers and corporate partners under one roof.

07/09/2025

Seamless Spaces: At the Mayo Clinic's Integrated Education and Research Building, a shaded courtyard oasis sits at the heart of the campus, nestled between the building's two wings. This inviting space fosters connection and community, offering areas for respite and gathering. Spanning 100 feet, a striking PTFE canopy shelters both the courtyard and rooftop terrace above the bridge linking the education and research wings. This canopy provides year-round relief from the Phoenix sun for all outdoor gathering spaces while reinforcing the building's mission to connect students, researchers, clinicians and faculty.

📍Phoenix, Arizona