More light in, better views out of THSL – see for yourself Sept. 16

Faculty, staff, students and other visitors to the A. Alfred Taubman Health Sciences Library (THSL) will notice that the soaring brick walls above the front entrance and around the outside of the facility have been replaced by energy efficient glass that allows more natural light in and offers them a new view of the medical campus.

The revamped exterior is but one highlight of the recently completed 18-month, $55 million renovation that will be on display Sept. 16 during grand re-opening festivities. From 2-4 p.m., the University community and general public are invited to tour the building and see other ways the U-M has vastly improved learning facilities for its medical, graduate and health professions students.

Additional improvements include dozens of classrooms and small-group meeting rooms, a realistic simulated clinic, advanced educational technology, new café with coffee and light fare, and medical student lounge that offers kitchen facilities and entertainment options.

Upon entering the facility on Sept. 16, visitors will receive a brochure that they can use to take a self-guided tour of the facility. Hosts will be stationed on each level to answer questions and point out highlights on each floor.

Other features of the new Taubman Health Sciences Library:

• It stands on the site where U-M’s second hospital began taking patients in 1891 — one year after the Medical School adopted a then-revolutionary four-year curriculum.

• Learning spaces are spread over five levels of the building — two below street level.
• Learning technologies include a large touch-screen table for exploring human anatomy virtually, and facilities for teleconferencing and computer-based testing.
• The Clinical Skills Suite includes 30 realistic patient care rooms complete with simulated medical technology, and facilities for the trained medical actors — called “standardized patients” — and actual patients who help medical students learn and test hands-on skills.
• About 6,000 square feet were added in the renovation, including a monumental staircase.
• A wide array of “green building” features make the building eligible for Gold LEED status, a measure of environmentally conscious facility construction and operation.
• The building has indoor connections on several levels to other Medical School buildings.
• Construction teams used 1,700 tons of concrete, recycled 1,780 tons of material, and installed more than 67 miles of data cable and 2,011 data jacks.

More information: http://umhealth.me/taubmanlib
Photo gallery: http://umhealth.me/thslphotos and slideshow: http://umhealth.me/thslshow
Printable building guide: http://umhealth.me/thlbrochure