The studio tackles the pressing need to rethink and repurpose the machine-like hospital building constructed in the decades following World War II. In America alone, thousands of these buildings were built following the passage of the 1947 Hill-Burton Act. These structures, once at the forefront of clinical architecture, have become outdated as medical practice and technology have progressed and hospital design has evolved to prioritize patient-centered care, new technical standards, and community integration. In an era where minimizing our carbon footprint is paramount, the adaptive reuse of existing buildings offers a sustainable alternative for certain aspects of hospital construction. This studio addresses a global challenge with a local solution, transforming an outdated hospital building into a rehabilitated place of care.

Building on knowledge collected during a visit to see Herzog & de Meuron’s hospitals and other relevant work in Switzerland, students will develop a proposal for the adaptive reuse of one of Boston’s most prominent hospital buildings. The studio focuses on the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Tower at Massachusetts General Brigham Hospital in Boston. The Tower, now approaching the end of its useful lifespan, presents an opportunity for creative intervention. To repurpose it, students will be asked to incorporate a neuro-rehabilitation center and to propose an additional programmatic element that enhances the building’s functionality, connectivity to the overall hospital and community relevance.

Hospitals should no longer be considered isolated campuses for the ill, but integral parts of our cities that serve the entire community. Rehabilitation for the mind and for the body are considered. Key themes are adaptive reuse, urban transformation, community placemaking, and the relationship between the human body and its surroundings.

Following the analytical phase, students will develop a concept for the adaptive reuse of the selected building. This design process will operate at three distinct scales: the macro scale of the hospital and city, the intermediary scale of the existing building, and the micro scale of a single patient related space. Students will be encouraged to explore innovative design solutions that address the complex interplay between these scales, ensuring that the final proposal is both visionary and practical.

By the end of the course, students will have developed a comprehensive proposal that not only revitalizes an outdated hospital building but also contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable urban development and healthcare architecture. This design studio offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of architecture, urbanism, and healthcare, equipping students with the skills and insights needed to address the challenges of one of our most crucial but underappreciated building typologies.

This studio is supported by the AECOM Design Research Fund.
 

Note regarding the Fall 2026 GSD academic calendar: The first day of classes, Wednesday, September 2nd, is held as a MONDAY schedule at the GSD. This studio will meet for the first time on Thursday, September 3rd.