The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM)

At the PDC Summit in Atlanta, SLAM’s Sagar Chavan, AIA, LEED-AP will lead an expert panel to discuss the Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Radiation Oncology project, a groundbreaking, all-electric, specialty cancer center that prioritizes both sustainability and patient experience. Alongside Long Kim Duong, MBA, LEED AP, Henry Pramono, PE, LEED AP, Louise Belair, and Adam DiMuria, Sagar will dive into innovative design strategies, sustainability metrics, and engineering solutions that make this project a model for the future of healthcare design. From eliminating natural gas to integrating therapeutic and interactive spaces, this session will explore how sustainability can enhance, not compromise, the healing environment. Join us as we showcase how sustainability and design excellence create high-performing, patient-focused spaces. #HealthcareDesign #SustainableDesign #PDC2025

SLAM is seeking top talent in design and construction to join our dynamic team. We’re passionate collaborators who value unique perspectives. It’s what defines everything that we do – from the way that we structure and operate our business, to the way that we design and deliver our work. It’s not just a part of our process, but an everyday practice that keeps our firm connected to our clients, our work, and each other. Visit the link to explore open positions and join the SLAM team! www.slamcoll.com/careers

Today marks an exciting milestone for the University of South Carolina School of Medicine as they break ground on their new 300,000-SF interdisciplinary education and biomedical research facility in Columbia’s flourishing BullStreet District. This state-of-the-art building will feature cutting-edge education, including a simulated hospital and clinic, a dedicated home for the Ultrasound Institute, active learning classrooms, human structures, student commons, study and collaboration spaces, a research wing with specialty labs, interdisciplinary wet and dry research labs, additional support spaces, and a café. This expansion will help shape the future of medical education while supporting South Carolina’s growing need for health professionals and researchers. SLAM, the design architect, collaborated with local architecture firm, BOUDREAUX, while Gilbane Development Company led teams throughout the entire process. Other key team members in this highly cooperative project include construction manager, Cummings, construction manager and minority business, Brownstone, development consultant and minority- and women-owned business, Restoration 52 LLC, and laboratory programmer and planner, Research Facilities Design (RFD). To learn more about how SLAM is influencing the future of medical education facilities, visit us at www.slamcoll.com.

From a once well-known shopping center to a state-of-the-art healthcare facility, the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) has proudly redefined what architectural design and patient care can look like. A one-time Sears at Marketplace Mall in Henrietta, NY has now officially been transformed into the The Saunders Center for Orthopaedics & Physical Performance at URMC. Proof that healthcare is capable of flourishing in the most unexpected places. Led by SLAM, who partnered with Perkins&Will for design, the new Saunders Center project not only revitalized a once struggling retail space, and made healthcare more accessible to the larger community. See our published article in Architectural Record detailing the project: https://bit.ly/41pBEpm #AdaptiveReuse #HealthcareInnovation

How can a thoughtfully designed space contribute to setting the standard for treating patients? In her latest op-ed piece, SLAM's Tracy Caisse points to the Medical Psychiatric Integrated Care Unit at Connecticut Children’s as one of the few U.S. hospitals dedicated to treating comorbid conditions. From depression and eating disorders to diabetes and epilepsy, Caisse explains how SLAM’s thoughtful design efforts contribute to a healthcare space that makes a difference in supporting the needs of young patients who seek medical and psychiatric care. For a closer look, click the link to read Tracy’s perspective in Medical Construction & Design magazine on how SLAM helped a client set a standard for providing integrated care that addresses the pediatric mental health crisis.

Beyond the bricks and mortar, construction projects come with a range of hidden costs that, if overlooked, can derail budgets and timelines. At the NBOA: Business Leadership for Independent Schools 2025 Annual Meeting and Business Solutions Showcase held at the New York Marriott Marquis, Gene Torone, DBIA, President of SLAM Construction Services, will break down these often-misunderstood expenses and share key strategies for anticipating, budgeting, and managing them effectively. His session, "Uncovering Soft Costs and Additional Expenses in a Project Budget," will help attendees gain valuable insights into tracking and controlling construction soft costs from the earliest planning stages for smoother project executions and more financial stability.

Today, February 11th, SLAM proudly celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science, recognizing the important contributions that women and girls have made in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). As we honor the trailblazers who have lead, and continue to lead, the drive for change, it’s incumbent upon us all to strive for a world where gender doesn't limit one's potential in science. Let’s do our part to inspire girls to pursue STEM careers. To learn more about who we are and all that we do at SLAM, visit www.slamcoll.com

Furniture design plays a crucial role in shaping the learning environment, influencing not just aesthetics but how space functions. It can enhance student engagement, foster collaboration, and improve learning outcomes. Join Amanda Hastings Shea, NCIDQ, ALEP, IIDA Hastings Shea on the Better Learning Podcast, with Kevin Stoller, as the two dive into how thoughtful furniture choices can transform educational spaces. Visit our site and to learn more about this episode of the Better Learning Podcast: https://bit.ly/412x8wX

Congratulations are in order! Corporate Market team leaders, Terri Finucane and Mary (Martin) Fox, were recognized at the CoreNet Global Connecticut Westchester Chapter's Annual Holiday Party in December. Terri was the recipient of the President’s Award for her commitment and service to the chapter, while Mary received the Young Leader of the Year Award. For more information about all that we do, visit us at www.slamcoll.com

Keith Fine AIA Fine, of The S/L/A/M Collaborative and Ian Keough, of Hypar, join the TRXL podcast, hosted by Evan Troxel, to discuss how working together has changed the healthcare design process from early programming to fabrication. Discover how SLAM brings practical architectural experience and a vision, while Hypar provides powerful design automation tools. As Keith explains how SLAM is making healthcare space planning a faster and more efficient process, Ian shares his thoughts on how software has adapted to meet real architectural needs. Jointly, their work demonstrates how architects and software developers can team up to create better building design tools. To listen to the podcast, visit https://bit.ly/4gfiLJV