NEW YORK, NY — HOK has designed the new Hamilton and Amabel James Center for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health. The 65,000-square-foot facility will be housed in a former nursing residence in Manhattan, and will become the first of its kind within a U.S. medical school when it opens by the end of 2023. The center will enable staff and faculty from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to advance AI and transform health care, and will also host staff from the Genomic Health and Emergency Departments. It will feature computer and other dry labs to support research that advances medicine and diagnostics.

“HOK’s design transforms the 12-story building into an open and collaborative environment that will support important research and facilitate the recruitment of new faculty and staff,” said David Schwartz, Regional Leader for Science + Technology with HOK.

The design updates the building’s facade, originally completed in 1964, with new windows and a “front porch” to create a welcoming street presence. The new lobby has been designed with a large video wall, reception desk, and small coffee bar, with a bioengineering maker space on the ground level.

Inside, the design prioritizes staff comfort, collaborative spaces, and areas for quiet focus. Each floor has a mix of open workstations, private offices, meeting spaces, video/phone rooms, and gender-neutral toilets. Strategies for accommodating the staff’s sensory needs include incorporating sound-dampening acoustic materials and eliminating visual clutter and distractions throughout the space.

All residents will share a large 12th-floor amenity space featuring a divisible conference room, lounge seating, and a pantry.