Nazarbayev University School of Medicine (NUSOM) is a new school scheduled to be opened in 2015. The strategic academic partner for NUSOM is the top ranked University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. NUSOM will develop a unique model of medical education where the graduates will have the opportunity to build their careers as scholars in medical research, education, and patient care.

The school includes both medical and nursing education and is unique in its inter-professional training and research collaborations. In the 4-year graduate medical block based curriculum, the students will be introduced to clinical experiences from their first year. The site selected for the Nazarbayev University School of Medicine is near NU’s main campus and in close proximity to the hospitals of National Medical Holding, also part of NU, which will serve as clinical rotation
sites for the students.

The facility’s unique design was inspired by the essential ideal of a community of learning, discovery, and healing. It will provide an environment where the future healthcare professionals will participate in an interdisciplinary, team-based approach to education, allowing for a well-balanced, focused and diverse learning
outcome.

The building is based on the metaphor of two healing hands coming together
to create one community, the community of NUSOM. This metaphor quickly developed in specific strategies for efficient building flows, effective and
efficient functionality within the curriculum-based vertical stacking as well as creating a sense of transparency, and interior / exterior connectivity.