Most academic medical centers face a unique challenge when it comes to the recruitment and retention of clinical faculty. They recognize that faculty expect modern, private workspaces— for charting patient, writing clinical and basic science research grants, and educational planning—but struggle to sustainably offer the investment or have the resources to accommodate this need.

The University of Colorado’s (CU) Anschutz Medical Campus, in partnership with its School of Medicine, solves this challenge with an innovative space called The Hub, an inviting destination comprised of on-demand workspaces where clinical faculty can do work by themselves, collaborate across disciplines, or just rejuvenate and refocus.

This breakthrough solution stands as a model for other academic medical centers. The Hub is designed with extensive input from clinicians, offering varying types of work settings that can be reserved digitally. This Hub is also equipped with seamless technology connectivity and is available 24/7 to accommodate varying clinical schedules. In addition to 33 enclosed offices, there are semi-private and open workspaces.

The Hub offers physicians, clinical researchers and faculty concierge services, free snacks and beverages, showers, treadmills, lounge seating, TV and more. More private spaces are available to clinical staff including sleep pods and conference rooms for larger group functions. The Hub fuels efficiency, collaboration, wellness, recruitment and retention for CU Anschutz.

Moreover, The Hub is working. Consider the following data:

• More than 50 faculty members have given up their private offices for access to The Hub.
• At the start of 2019-2020 academic year, more than 200 faculty were signed up for The Hub.
• Increased use and praise of the space reveals clinicians don’t need private offices to thrive.