AIA Arizona Honors Shepley Bulfinch with Collaboration Award
Shepley Bulfinch was honored with the Goodwin Collaboration Award by AIA Arizona for our work on the Mayo Clinic East Expansion. This category is for completed architecture, with recognition for collaborative work by the full team to produce a project that not only embodies design excellence and outstanding craftsmanship, but serves the owner’s functional, financial, and aesthetic mission.
The East Expansion of the Mayo Clinic’s Phoenix campus includes a 330,000-sf hospital and clinic renovation and expansion resulting in a new high-rise tower that prioritizes innovation, longevity, and the highest level of care. This went beyond a traditional construction project; it was a collaborative journey that brought together architects, engineers, trade partners, and Mayo Clinic representatives in a deeply integrated process. From early visioning sessions in the “Little Big Room” to co-located teamwork in the Big Room, the integrated team embraced a culture of transparency, shared goals, and mutual respect. This ethos set the team up for success against a litany of complex scenarios, from design challenges to navigating collaboration in a global pandemic.
Benefits of the Big Room
The entire project team co-located in a Big Room on the Mayo Phoenix campus to work side by side in the development of design, the construction documents and construction administration. Coordinating many individual firms on any single project is always highly complicated, but the results of this approach speak for themselves. The Big Room brought key project stakeholders together in one place, giving them the chance to literally turn to one another for answers. No more chasing emails, phone calls, or navigating different time zones to reach team members. Because the teams come together as a new entity, there is also the opportunity for individuals to step up and take on new responsibilities.
Learn more about the award-winning Mayo Clinic East Expansion.

Emily Hooper
Senior Brand + Communications Manager
Emily leads brand and communications strategies across six physical and virtual studios.