The 106,000-square-foot project, which adds four floors of medical office space over two levels of subterranean parking, is accessed off a new plaza entrance off Church Street. This new entrance creates a much-needed access point to maximize the patient experience for both inpatient and outpatient visitors to the campus.
The project design is an important element of Ascension Saint Thomas’ Midtown Modernization Plan. Over the past several years, the hospital has worked to modernize this campus without abandoning its history. The firm was able to work with Ascension Saint Thomas and Healthcare Realty to find the right balance of compatibility with the existing campus and moving forward with a modern design aesthetic. A high-end aesthetic, simple and clean lines, and featured areas such as a green roof and natural design features were all key elements to creating a welcoming feel and enhancing the patient experience.
As part of the Owner’s and firm’s goals to achieve LEED Certification, the project incorporated green spaces and seating areas, sustainably engineered systems and natural plantings, resulting in an energy-efficient and user-friendly environment. The complex project presented several unique challenges, including the task of designing a building with pronounced street appeal, coordinating traffic flow between multiple pedestrian and vehicular entry points on three levels, and maintaining consistent utility services while minimizing operational disruption during construction.