Precision medicine is an emerging approach to disease treatment and prevention that focuses on individual variability in genes, environment and lifestyle for each person. Unlike a one-size-fits-all approach, doctors and researchers can better predict which strategies for a particular disease will work in which groups of people.

A recent addition to Huntsville’s HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology – a leader in genomic science – is the Paul Propst Center for Precision Medicine. Designed by Fuqua & Partners Architects, the new 100,000-square-foot center in HudsonAlpha’s Cummings Research Park houses the institute’s growing education and research programs and biotech companies.

Designed to harmonize with HudsonAlpha’s flagship building, the new center includes laboratories, offices, and educational and collaborative spaces. A spacious and open lobby, glass-walled offices, a large staircase and “clean rooms” for handling biological samples are part of the new building devoted to precision medicine.

“Our primary design challenge was to pay homage to the existing vocabulary on campus while providing this facility with its own identity,” notes Senior Project Architect Tim Packard.

“The education space is the real gem of the building. It was conceived as a series of events along a path used to tell a story and inspire society to embrace the use of genomics in healthcare and agriculture. The combination of hands-on classroom modules, digital learning spaces and collaboration areas will help train our future scientists.”

In April 2019, Fuqua & Partners submitted the project for consideration at the 2019 IIDA Alabama IDIE Awards and the project won the Best of Corporate Large award. IIDA-AL is the state’s association for the commercial interior design industry. This year’s awards included 91 submissions from 30 firms and furniture dealers.

Huntsville philanthropist and businessman William Propst Sr. has made significant donations to HudsonAlpha’s work in precision medicine. The new center is named in memory of his father, Paul Propst, who was a minister in North Alabama. Funding for the center was also provided by a state grant. Brasfield & Gorrie served as the general contractor on the project.

Image 1: New to Huntsville’s HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology – a leader in genomic science – is the Paul Propst Center for Precision Medicine.

Image 2: Designed by Fuqua & Partners Architects, the new 100,000-square-foot Paul Propst Center for Precision Medicine in HudsonAlpha’s Cummings Research Park houses the institute’s growing education and research programs and biotech companies.

Image 3: The main design challenge, says Senior Project Architect Tim Packard, was to pay homage to the existing vocabulary on HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology campus while providing the new facility with its own identity.

Image 4: Alabama pine was among the materials used in the construction of the new Paul Propst Center for Precision Medicine. The building was designed to complement the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology’s primary building.

*Article Written By Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Fuqua & Partners