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for immediate release
Construction for the translational
research institute for metabolism
and diabetes takes shape
Atlanta, GA
Gainesville, FL
Madison, WI
Raleigh, NC
San Francisco, CA
Stamford, CT
Tampa, FL
Madison, WI – (September 1, 2011) Florida Hospital – Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute’s
Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI), is one step closer to opening its new
translational research facility. The state-of-the-art, 54,000-square-foot building recently reached its final
height and construction to enclose the building is well underway.
Designed by Flad Architects, the translational research facility will focus on the study of diabetes,
obesity, and the metabolic origins of cardiovascular disease, bridging the gap between the research
lab and the patient’s bedside – allowing for scientific discoveries and treatments to be developed more
quickly and on a more personalized level.
“We are witnessing an epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the United States. Current statistics show that
two-thirds of all Americans are overweight and obese and 1 in 12 has some form of diabetes,” said Dr.
Steven Smith, scientific director of the TRI. “These staggering statistics call for decisive action and that
includes innovative research. The main goal of the TRI is to generate new knowledge to improve lives
through research.”
The TRI will bring scientists, clinicians, and the procedures necessary to facilitate translational research
together under one roof. The three-story building will contain clinic space, testing rooms, medical
imaging, a biorepository, calorimeter rooms (the first of their kind), chemistry laboratories, exam rooms,
food services, and advanced technologies to develop personalized treatments. This and other additional
technology will help researchers better understand why one treatment option for a patient who suffers
from diabetes or obesity may not work for another patient.
n
644 Science Drive
Madison WI 53711
For more information:
Sarah Peterson
Media contact
608 232-4317
speterson@flad.com
New building that will house state-of-the-art translational research for obesity and diabetes
will open in early 2012

Construction for the translational
research institute for metabolism
and diabetes takes shape
Expected to be completed by early 2012, the new facility will be a landmark building for Florida
Hospital and the signature building in their new Health Village in Orlando. The distinctive design
will meet TRI’s desire to reflect the high technology of the scientific discoveries happening within the
facility yet present a warm and inviting environment for staff and volunteers.
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The building’s L-shaped configuration is organized around an arrival courtyard with a garden and water
feature that leads inside to a modest two-story lobby. An ornamental staircase connects the first two
floors and runs along a feature wall with a two-story interactive digital display focused on the facility’s
mission and science.
The exterior of the building has a transformative nature as day turns into night. The terra-cotta and glass
enclosed staircases that visually anchor both ends of the building act as lanterns at night in the urban
landscape. The building’s main street façade, made up of stainless steel sunscreens, shifts from a solid
form to a more transparent appearance at night revealing an illuminated curtain wall that visually hints
at the research discoveries occurring within.
About Flad Architects
Established in 1927, Flad Architects (www.flad.com) specializes in the planning and design of
innovative facilities for healthcare, higher education, and science and technology clients. With
headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin, and offices across the United States, Flad is a nationally
recognized leader in serving the complex needs of knowledge-based organizations.
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