Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

The St. Vincent Health Sciences Center, located on the Queens, NY campus of St. John's University, has received an architectural award just two months after its official opening. The center was recognized at a ceremony held at The Garden City Hotel on November 7, where CannonDesign was awarded an "Archi Award" for Excellence in Architecture in the Institutional/Hospitality/Health Care/Government/Transportation/Educational category.

John Reed, AIA, Design Principal at CannonDesign, expressed his gratitude: “We are honored to have been asked to make this building with the team at St. John’s University. The result is testament to the University’s vision for adding contemporary new architecture to their bucolic Queens campus and their passionate commitment to ensuring for the education of tomorrow’s health care professionals.”

The Annual AIA Long Island Chapter Design Awards Program acknowledges outstanding work by architects on Long Island or related projects in architectural design. This program highlights excellence and innovation while recognizing architects' contributions to the built environment.

Brian Baumer, Associate Vice President of Campus Facilities and Services at St. John's University, stated: “St. John’s is proud to share this award, and we salute our external partners CannonDesign and Shawmut Design and Construction that made our dream a reality.”

The $106 million facility demonstrates St. John's commitment to service, innovation, and academic excellence. Built with eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient systems like solar panels and bird-safe glass windows, it aims for LEED Silver certification.

The building features state-of-the-art classrooms and lecture halls designed for optimal learning environments. Approximately 25 percent of its assignable floor area consists of Skills and Assessment Flex Labs and Hi-Fidelity Simulation Centers where students can train in clinical skills within simulated hospital settings.

Study spaces support student cohorts learning together with designs inspired by Learning Communities trends in medical education. Faculty offices encourage collaboration through open environments while collaborative learning spaces promote interdisciplinary work among students, faculty, and researchers.

Since 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has been a leading association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners. It advocates for the profession through information sharing and community building.

AIA Long Island is a chapter of the AIA with over 600 members dedicated to supporting its members while advancing architecture's role in society.