12 award-winning healthcare projects [slideshow]

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH) has selected the recipients of the AIA National Healthcare Design Awards program.

The AIA Healthcare Awards program showcases the best of healthcare building design and healthcare design-oriented research. Projects exhibit conceptual strengths that solve aesthetic, civic, urban, and social concerns as well as the requisite functional and sustainability concerns of a hospital.

Jurors for the 2013 National Healthcare Design Awards include: Joan Saba, AIA, Chair, NBBJ; Orlando T. Maione, AIA, Maione Associates; Mike Mense, FAIA, mmenseArchitects; Kathy Reno, Joint Commission Resources, Inc.; Bill Rostenberg, FAIA, Stantec; Bryan Shiles, AIA, WRNS and Ron Smith, AIA, Design At The Intersection.

Recipients were selected in five different categories; Category A: Built, Less than $25 million in construction cost, Category B: Built, More than $25 million in construction cost, Category C: Unbuilt, Category D: Innovations in Planning and Design Research, Built and Unbuilt and Category E: Master Planning Urban Design for Healthcare Settings.

Here are the winners (images and descriptions courtesy AIA):

Category A: Built, Less than $25 million in construction cost

1. UCLA Outpatient Surgery and Oncology Center; Santa Monica, California
Michael W. Folonis Architects

This outpatient surgery, oncology treatment and medical office facility asserts that a more-natural and less-clinical environment promotes healing in patients and productive behavior in medical staff. The architects sought the maximum inclusion of natural lighting and ventilation, and an enhanced indoor-outdoor connection. The design concept is inspired by the belief that principles of Modernism are the ideal means to realize the high standards of sustainability in healthcare design. The design achieves an aesthetic ideal, while delivering a patient-focused healing environment, the utility required by the owner, and the requirements for Gold LEED certification. This is the only project to win AIA-AAH Awards in both on-the-boards and built categories. Photos: Tom Bonner

2. Peace Island Medical Center; Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington
Mahlum

Peace Island Medical Center began with a remote island community uniting to realize their vision of rural healthcare in the San Juan Islands. The hospital melds discreetly into the old-growth forest, basalt slopes and wetlands. Island resources are extremely limited, making sustainable choices fundamental. Naturally ventilated clinical areas and patient rooms connect occupants with fresh air and drive down energy use. The design reflects the values of the caregivers and community, embodying humility, environmental sensitivity and innovation. The Living Building Challenge served as a roadmap for sustainable initiatives, decoupled mechanical systems, greatly reduced potable water use and minimal energy use. Photos: Courtesy Mahlum

3. Adamsville Regional Health Center; Atlanta
Stanley Beaman & Sears

The 34,000-square-foot building houses a primary care clinic, a behavioral health clinic, childcare facilities, a dental clinic and a workforce community center. The co-location of these functions led the design team to consider the communal folk art of quilting and inspiration also came from the constructed paintings of contemporary Atlanta artist Radcliffe Bailey, who pieces together found objects, archival photographs and historic imagery with jazz-like effects. The design-build, fast-track project was completed, from start to finish, in 275 days. It required coordinating the participation of multiple stakeholders including the City of Atlanta and Fulton County governments, the contracting firm Whiting-Turner, Fulton County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Emma Darnell, the Fulton County Office of Cultural Affairs, the staff of West End Medical Center and residents of the Adamsville neighborhood. Photos: Jonathan Hillyer

4. The Everett Clinic Smokey Point Medical Center; Smokey Point, Washington
ZGF Architects LLP

Photo: Benjamin Benschneider

The new Smokey Point Medical Center houses twenty different medical specialties in a two-story 60,000-square-foot clinic designed to reflect The Everett Clinic’s values and to streamline and enhance the patient experience by reducing wait times and providing comprehensive care in a single easy to access community location. The facility was designed using Lean with a focus on achieving a highly efficient, flexible and patient-focused care environment that expressed affordable elegance. This facility manifests the Everett Clinic’s core values: do what is right for each patient; provide and enriching and supportive care environment; and deliver value in quality, cost and service. Photos: Benjamin Benschneider and Doug Scott

Photo: Doug Scott

Photo: Benjamin Benschneider

Photo: Doug Scott

Category B: Build, More than $25 million in construction cost

5. University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital; Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tsoi/Kobus & Associates

The University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital started with a vision: to create the ideal environment in which to provide and receive children’s healthcare. Today, the hospital is setting new standards for safety, comfort, and clinical efficiency. The six-story building consolidates the pediatric programs and inpatient units. It includes 96 same-handed, private inpatient rooms, a sedation/observation unit, dialysis unit, pediatric emergency department, an expansion of the existing imaging department and surgical suite, family resource center, gift shop, and underground parking. The building creates a distinctive identity for the hospital, immediately engaging visitors with its bright and playful exterior of multi-colored stainless steel panels. An interactive interior design theme, “Passport to Discovery,” enlivens the interior, aids in wayfinding, and offers opportunities for diversion and discovery. Photos: Nick Merrick, Hedrich Blessing; Drawings: TK&A

6. Palomar Medical Center; Escondido, California
CO Architects

Nationally recognized for its innovative approach to sustainable design, healing environments and technical execution, Palomar Medical Center is the first phase of development of a new 35-acre campus that includes the 360-bed acute-care hospital and a new central plant. Innovations in medical planning and architectural design meet the project goals of improving access to care, improving operational efficiencies, and creating sustainable, high-performance healing environments. Design strategies incorporate garden spaces at every level of the 11-story nursing tower, and utilize green-roof technology that extends the landscape and improves views from the patient rooms. The design includes a full complement of water conservation, air quality, and energy-saving measures. Photos: Tom Bonner