Just as fallen leaves enrich the soil for future growth, UCI’s Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building is a state-of-the-art facility that supports the next generation of scientific discoveries. Inspired by Dr. Adeline Yen Mah’s metaphor that no matter where the leaves fall, they become the nutrient for growth and possibility, the building stands as a living embodiment of that vision: a place where ideas take root, collaboration flourishes and the boundaries of health science are advanced.
The university’s goal was to expand its Health Sciences Precinct with a world-class research hub that could attract leading minds, advance interdisciplinary collaboration and evolve with changing needs. The facility delivers flexible labs, collaborative zones and infrastructure for scientists, engineers and medical professionals to work side-by-side on pressing healthcare challenges.
Design-Build Expertise and Collaboration in Action
Design-build project delivery was central to success, led by a team that included six DBIA-certified professionals. Their expertise ensured seamless collaboration, transparent communication and value-driven decision-making. Early trade engagement, iterative design reviews and real-time BIM coordination enabled the team to add 26,000 sq. ft. of usable space, optimize lab modules and align with the university’s vision while meeting budget and schedule.
Innovation in team collaboration was a hallmark. A unified Big Room environment brought together the university, users, designers, builders and trade partners, enabling same-day adjustments to lab layouts and conference spaces based on user feedback. This inclusivity promoted shared ownership and rapid problem-solving not possible with conventional delivery.
The decision to provide stipends to non-awarded shortlisted teams stood out as an industry best practice. By compensating for proposal development costs, the university encouraged innovative, fully-developed concepts, attracted top-tier competitors and reinforced fairness and transparency.
Process innovations, from prefabricated façade systems to modular structural design, accelerated construction and enhanced flexibility. The result is a high-performance research facility that not only meets today’s needs but remains agile for the breakthroughs of tomorrow, a benchmark for design-build excellence and a catalyst for scientific discovery.
Design-Build Team
| Client/Owner: | University of California, Irvine |
| Design-Builder: | Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company |
| General Contractor: | Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company |
| Architect: | LMN Architects, LLP |
| Engineers: | Alvine Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical); Saiful Bouquet (Structural); FPL and Associates (Civil) |
| Subcontractors: | Spurlock Landscape Architects; Research Facilities Design (Lab Planner); Stantec (Acoustics & A/V); rieto Construction Company (Concrete Structure); Walters & Wolf (Window Systems) |
| Project Cost: | $208,669,410 |
| Construction Duration: | 16 Months |
Photos
Photo Credits: © Adam Hunter; © UC Irvine Health Affairs