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Global architectural design firm Perkins&Will and its Danish partner Schmidt Hammer Lassen celebrate the completion of the MacIsaac Wellness Building designed by them. This building at the University of British Columbia (UBC) integrates academic, scientific research, student health and well-being functions, and is located at the historic entrance of UBC’s Vancouver campus. The approximately 25,000 square meter (270,000 square foot) facility brings together the MacIsaac School of Nursing, the School of Kinesiology, UBC Student Health and Wellbeing Services, the Team Care Teaching Clinic, and other academic and research functions. The design advances UBC’s priorities of sustainability, Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) Indigenous engagement, and student health and well-being while creating a new campus arrival experience.
Global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will and its Danish partners Schmidt Hammer Lassen are celebrating their design of the new MacIsaac Health Building at the University of British Columbia—an academic, research, and student health and wellbeing facility at the historic entrance to UBC’s Vancouver campus. The approximately 25,000-square-metre (270,000-square-foot) facility brings together the MacIsaac School of Nursing, the School of Kinesiology, UBC Student Health and Wellbeing services, a Team-based Care Teaching Clinic, and other academic and research functions. Its design creates a new campus arrival experience while advancing UBC’s priorities for sustainability, Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) engagement, and student health and wellbeing.
▼The front exterior view of the building at dusk, front exterior view at dusk © Ema Peter
This project is the latest chapter in a decades-long partnership between Perkins&Will and UBC to help shape a campus environment that supports learning, research and community. Schmidt Hammer Lassen has studios in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Shanghai and has been part of Perkins&Will since 2018.
The project represents the latest chapter in a decades-long relationship between Perkins&Will and UBC, helping shape a campus environment that supports learning, research, and community. Schmidt Hammer Lassen, with studios in Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Shanghai, has been part of Perkins&Will since 2018.
▼The main entrance viewed from the plaza © Ema Peter
“The team at Perkins&Will and Schmidt Hammer Lassen balanced multiple priorities to create an engaging gateway to our campus,” said Matthew Roddis, co-director of planning and design for UBC Campus and Community Planning.
“The team of Perkins&Will and Schmidt Hammer Lassen balanced multiple priorities to create a compelling gateway to our campus,” says Matthew Roddis, Co-Director, Planning and Design, UBC Campus and Community Planning.
▼Atrium and skylight, atrium and skylight © Ema Peter
▼Atrium ground floor with Musqueam art wall, atrium ground floor with Musqueam art wall © Ema Peter
Advancing zero-carbon design
Advancing Zero Carbon Design
Sustainability is a fundamental goal of this project. The MacIsaac Health Building is the first building on UBC’s Vancouver campus to be certified by the Canadian Green Building Council (CAGBC) Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard (v2), and it also received LEED Gold certification, echoing UBC and Perkins&Will’s long-standing commitment to climate leadership.
Sustainability was a foundational ambition of the project. The MacIsaac Health Building is the first on UBC’s Vancouver campus to achieve Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard (v2) certification, and it also achieved LEED Gold certification, supporting both UBC’s and Perkins&Will’s long-standing commitments to climate leadership.
▼Full view of the building from the street © Ema Peter
The project uses a high-performance building envelope, natural ventilation strategies and heat recovery systems, and uses a full building life cycle assessment to identify opportunities to reduce embodied carbon. Modular and prefabricated construction systems also improve construction efficiency, reduce material waste, enhance quality control, and reduce the overall embodied carbon of the project. Timber construction plays a central role in the building’s low-carbon strategy. In addition to reducing embodied carbon, the exposed wood structure echoes the deep architectural traditions of the Pacific Northwest, giving the space warmth, character and a strong sense of place, thereby enhancing and supporting the human experience. The project also uses low-carbon concrete proportions to further reduce the building’s embodied carbon.
▼Pre-fabricated construction & material expression analysis diagram, pre-fabricated construction & material expression diagram © Perkins&Will + Schmidt Hammer Lassen
The project incorporates a high-performance building envelope, natural ventilation strategies, heat recovery systems, and the design included a whole-building life-cycle assessment that informed opportunities to reduce embodied carbon. Modular and prefabricated construction systems also contributed to construction efficiency, reduced material waste, enhanced quality control, and lowered the project’s overall embodied carbon. Mass timber plays a central role in the building’s low-carbon strategy. Beyond reducing embodied carbon, the exposed timber structure reflects the Pacific Northwest’s rich building traditions and contributes warmth, character, and a strong connection to place, thus enhancing and supporting the human experience. Low-carbon concrete mixes were also specified to further reduce the building’s embodied carbon.
▼Exposed mass timber structure in the atrium © Ema Peter
▼bridge walkway in the atrium © Ema Peter
▼Wood structure details, mass timber details © Ema Peter
“Sustainable strategies are woven into every aspect of the building, from material selection to building systems and construction methods,” said Kathy Wardle, regional director of regenerative design at Perkins&Will. “This project shows how ambitious carbon reduction targets can be achieved while creating a welcoming, healthy and inspiring space for everyday users.”
“The sustainability strategy is woven into many aspects of the building, from material selection to building systems and construction methods,” says Kathy Wardle, Regional Director of Regenerative Design at Perkins&Will. “This project demonstrates how ambitious carbon reduction goals can be achieved while creating spaces that are welcoming, healthy, and inspiring for the people who use them every day.”
▼The skylight structure above the atrium © Ema Peter
A new campus arrival experience
A New Arrival Experience
As the main arrival point on campus, the MacIsaac Wellness Building reimagines the relationship between architecture, landscape and the public realm. The building is set back from University Boulevard, and its location and massing create a spacious public square, creating a unique sense of arrival.
As the principal point of arrival to campus, the MacIsaac Health Building reimagines the relationship between building, landscape, and public realm. Set back from University Boulevard, the sitting and massing of the building establish a generous public plaza to create a distinct sense of arrival.
▼Distant view from University Boulevard, distant view from University Boulevard © Ema Peter
The ground floor is conceived as an extension of the landscape, with multiple entrances responding to the circulation of the site, creating a barrier-free experience for students, faculty, staff and visitors. The ground floor structure is exposed around the building, and the exterior walls are set back from the upper facade, giving the building the effect of floating above the landscape. The column expression on the ground floor is a reinterpretation of the forest that once grew on the site. At the center of the building, a six-story skylight atrium becomes a vibrant social core, connecting various functions, people and activities throughout the day.
▼Design logical analysis diagram, design rationale diagram © Perkins&Will + Schmidt Hammer Lassen
▼Analysis diagram, analysis diagram © Perkins&Will + Schmidt Hammer Lassen
The ground floor is conceived as an extension of the landscape, with multiple entrances responding to movement patterns across the site and creating an accessible experience for students, faculty, staff, and visitors alike. The ground floor structure is exposed at the perimeter of the building and exterior walls set back from the upper-level facade to give the appearance of the building floating above the landscape. a vibrant social heart, connecting programs, people, and activities throughout the day.
▼The building and the UBC sign at the street corner © Ema Peter
▼facade details and the lifted ground floor © Ema Peter
“From the beginning, we saw the opportunity to create more than just a building. We wanted to create a place that welcomed people onto campus and brought people together,” said Jana Foit, principal at Perkins&Will. “The atrium creates opportunities for connection, collaboration and community while reinforcing the building’s role as the gateway to UBC.”
“From the outset, we saw an opportunity to create more than a building. We wanted to create a place that welcomes people into campus and brings them together,” says Jana Foit, Principal at Perkins&Will. “The atrium creates opportunities for connection, collaboration, and community while reinforcing the building’s role as a gateway to UBC.”
▼Looking up at the atrium between the wings © Ema Peter
▼Night view and facade, Night view and facade © Ema Peter
Musqueam engages in architecture and landscape design
Musqueam Engagement in Building and Landscape Design
The UBC Vancouver campus is located on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Musqueam Nation. To this end, one of UBC’s core goals for this project was to create a Musqueam-like welcome upon entering campus and to have a cultural presence throughout the building. Musqueam representatives were involved in shaping the architecture and landscape of the MacIsaac Health Building. Their involvement is reflected in prominent landscaping around the building featuring native plants, public art pieces both indoors and out, and the use of natural materials and soft daylight in the architecture.
▼re-wilding landscape analysis diagram, re-wilding landscape diagram © Perkins&Will + Schmidt Hammer Lassen
The UBC Vancouver campus is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. In recognition of this, one of UBC’s core goals for the project was to create a Musqueam welcome when entering the campus and cultural presence throughout the building. Musqueam representatives helped shape the design and landscape of the MacIsaac Health Building. Their involvement is reflected in a prominent landscape with native plants surrounding the building, indoor and outdoor public artworks, and a building with natural materials and filtered daylight.
▼bridges and art banners in the atrium © Ema Peter
▼Musqueam art elements indoors and outdoors,
Musqueam artworks indoors and outdoors © Ema Peter
A model for health and well-being
A Model for Health and Wellbeing
Health and well-being are core to the mission of the colleges, services and programs within the MacIsaac Health Building and a fundamental driver of its design. The building encourages movement, social interaction and interdisciplinary collaboration through an open circulation network and a visually connected atrium. Daylight accessibility, views, healthy materials, and a variety of formal and informal gathering spaces work together to support the well-being of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The project is also applying for Gold Level Accessibility Certification from the Rick Hansen Foundation. The exposed wooden structure further enhances the user experience with its biophilic qualities. Exposed wooden beams and columns run throughout the central atrium, creating a warm and inviting environment that supports comfort, connection and well-being.
Health and wellbeing are central to the mission of the schools, services, and programs housed within the MacIsaac Health Building, and were fundamental drivers of its design. The building encourages movement, social interaction, and interdisciplinary collaboration through its open circulation network and visually connected atrium. Access to daylight, views to landscape, healthy materials, and a variety of formal and informal gathering spaces support the wellbeing of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The project is also pursuing gold under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification. The exposed mass timber structure further enhances the experience of building occupants through its biophilic qualities. Exposed wood beams and columns are expressed throughout the central atrium, creating a warm and welcoming environment that supports comfort, connection, and wellbeing.
▼Multi-layer bridges and wooden structures in the atrium,
multi-level bridges and timber structure in the atrium © Ema Peter
▼Details of timber structure in the atrium © Ema Peter
“As the new front door to UBC’s campus, the MacIsaac Wellness Building demonstrates how architecture can express institutional values while enriching the human experience. It integrates learning, research, sustainability and well-being to create a welcoming destination for the university community and generations to come,” said Kasper Heiberg Frandsen, principal of design at Schmidt Hammer Lassen.
“As a new front door to the UBC campus, the MacIsaac Health Building demonstrates how architecture can express institutional values while enriching human experience. Bringing together learning, research, sustainability, and wellbeing, it creates a welcoming destination for the university community and future generations,” says Kasper Heiberg Frandsen, Design Principal, Schmidt Hammer Lassen.
▼General floor plan, site plan © Perkins&Will + Schmidt Hammer Lassen
▼Floor plans (levels 0, 1 & 2) © Perkins&Will + Schmidt Hammer Lassen
▼South and east elevations © Perkins&Will + Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Project name/Project: MacIsaac Health Building/MacIsaac Health Building
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Design/Design: Perkins&Will + Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Function/Program: Education/ Education
Area/Size: 25,000 m²
Completed/Opened: September 2026/September 2026
Owner/Client: University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia
Commission method/ Commission: Open call for proposals (2020)/ Open RFP process (2020)
Landscape Architect: Hapa Collaborative
Engineering Consultants/Engineers: RJC, Stantec, Smith+Andersen, InterCAD
Certifications: CAGBC Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard (v2) and LEED Gold
Photography/Photography: Ema Peter
Website/Website: perkinswill.com,shl.dk
Email: cos@shl.dk
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