UCI College of Health Sciences
New UC Irvine health sciences building supports aim to become national model for integrative health
Understanding what drives the need for change
The University of California Irvine set an ambitious goal to become a national model for integrative health education, requiring a revolutionary approach to how healthcare professionals are trained. The new College of Health Sciences needed to house five distinct programs—nursing, medical doctorate, pharmacy, philosophy, and public health—under one roof, breaking down traditional silos that often separate these interconnected fields. This 205,000-square-foot facility would need to embody the holistic principles it teaches, creating an environment where students experience firsthand how nature, community, and interdisciplinary collaboration contribute to healing.
The challenge extended beyond simply providing furniture for classrooms and labs. The space needed to support a transformative educational philosophy that views healthcare through the lens of mind, body, and spirit wellness. Students would need to learn not just in traditional lecture halls, but in spaces that demonstrate biophilic design principles, encourage spontaneous collaboration between disciplines, and provide tangible examples of how environmental factors impact patient care and learning outcomes.
How we brought the vision to life
Tangram developed a comprehensive furniture strategy that aligned with the building's LEED Platinum certification and biophilic design principles, treating each piece as an educational tool that reinforces the school's holistic healthcare philosophy. The furniture selection process focused on creating environments that would naturally encourage interaction between students from different disciplines while supporting the hands-on learning methodologies essential to modern healthcare education.
Every space—from entry areas and administrative offices to specialized teaching labs and student lounges—received carefully curated furniture that supports both wellness and active learning. The design team selected pieces that could adapt to various teaching methods, allowing spaces to transform from traditional lecture formats to collaborative workshop environments. This flexibility ensures that students experience healthcare education as dynamic and experiential, rather than confined to rigid classroom structures.
8 solutions from 6 manufacturers
Joel Lounge Chair
A new take on the classic club chair — refined and modern. A graceful volume in a comfortable, embracing form. Swiveling effortlessly, Joel automatically returns to center when guests depart. Join the club.
Airtouch
Height-adjustability for anyone. Anywhere. The innovative Airtouch® mechanism gives workers the ability to adjust their worksurface height quickly, quietly and effortlessly, while encouraging frequent workstyle transitions.
QiVi
QiVi office chairs promote movement and collaboration while supporting a variety of postures, making QiVi perfect for meetings and conference rooms.
Pin Mobile Screen
Use Pin Mobile screens to create workspace division, supporting collaboration or focused, individual tasks. Used alone or in clusters, Pin Mobile provides an exciting combination of sleek, simple design, durable mobility and an extensive palette of sizes and finish options.
Series 1
Steelcase Series 1 office chair delivers performance, style and choice. It retains everything that’s valued in a chair, while making it attainable for everyone. With 11 mix-and-match knit, flexor and lumbar colors, and a wide range of shell and finish options, Steelcase Series 1 offers an abundance of choice that enables you to express your company’s brand and culture. Steelcase Series 1 was thoughtfully designed with integrated LiveBack technology, adaptive bolstering and 4D adjustable arms, delivering the dynamic performance you’ve come to expect from Steelcase.
Ozark
Ozark lounge is a modern collection with a barrel back that is tightly upholstered. This lounge offers a fixed seat fully upholstered to the floor or a 4-Leg lounge with a cleanout. It also offers a 360° swivel single seat for active mobility, and all are complimented with a two-seat lounge. Designed for office, education and healthcare or any common area to complement any space.
Ready to transform your space?
Let's discuss how we can create a workspace that reflects your culture and empowers your team.