Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Building

OPN Architects

Recognitions: 2021 AIA Iowa Impact Award

Project Description

Named after champions of community, civil rights, and social equity, the 63,000 SF public health and youth development building sits in the heart of a historic, once-flooded urban neighborhood. The primary design goals were community connectivity, social equity, and sustainability. Community input sessions and an immersive site and neighborhood analysis were foundational to the process and design. Organized as an ‘L,’ the plan is composed of a 3-story public health wing and a single-story child and youth development wing. The Public Health wing, lifted at one end, provides covered, accessible parking, thus maximizing green space on the site. The façade of wood panels and full-height curtainwall is wrapped in a brise-soleil punctuated by a large porch overlooking the city. With many children attending the child development programs being from low-income families, biophilic design principles such as natural daylight, wood ceilings and nature-inspired classroom furniture were incorporated for stress reduction and improving cognitive ability. The scale, rhythm and massing of the development wing responds to the surrounding fabric of single-family houses. The inclusive playground encourages discovery with simple play structures, an aspen tree grove and accessible artificial grass. A white paneled wall above the gym serves as a projection screen for outdoor movies. The gym and playground are open to the community after hours and on weekends, further reinforcing its commitment to the neighborhood. The design embraced its role in Public Health focusing on human wellness as well as energy efficiency and is on target for LEED Silver.