UC Irvine Constructs Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building

The University of California, Irvine is constructing the $250 million Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building to accelerate the discovery of new modalities for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Designed by LMN Architects, the 215,000-sf structure will provide advanced wet labs where teams of investigators will engage in cross-disciplinary research. Featuring integrated collaboration venues and support spaces, the project will also include offices, meeting rooms, and a vivarium. Sophisticated instructional settings will equip students to learn alongside faculty members as part of a progressive pedagogy of experiential education.

Strategically sited in the Health Sciences District, the sustainably designed facility is targeting a minimum of LEED Gold certification. The project team includes Research Facilities Design as laboratory design consultant, Alvine Engineering as MEP Engineer, and Saiful Bouquet as structural engineer. Cosco is providing fire and life safety services and Geotechnologies is the geotechnical contractor. Hathaway Dinwiddie broke ground on the transformative development in May of 2023 and occupancy is anticipated in April of 2025.