Designed to ease the financial burden of students, the new living and learning center provides affordable student housing within a supportive academic environment.
As one of the nation’s oldest and largest historically Black academic health institutions, Meharry’s new six-story residential facility features 126 apartment-style units in a learning community environment designed to nurture the next generation of diverse healthcare professionals.
Two large courtyards, bounded by streets on both sides, eliminate the concept of a main entrance, blurring the distinction between building front and back.
Advancing Health Equity
Advancing health equity requires greater racial, ethnic, and gender diversity within the physician workforce. However, common barriers like unaffordable housing, dispersed academic resources, and isolated community support often interfere with attrition for underrepresented groups pursuing healthcare. In cities such as Nashville, these factors are further compounded by rising cost of living and limited housing supply.
The Living and Learning Center at Meharry Medical College addresses these issues by providing 126 affordable, one-bedroom apartment units and amenity spaces within a supportive learning environment to support the next generation of healthcare professionals.
With a focus on addressing a significant need for more housing for its students, and creating additional learning space as the institution grows, the building accomplished both of these goals. Students now feel encouraged and supported to continue their professional careers at the college knowing they do not have to compete with the financial stress of Nashville’s market rate housing.
