The new Mercy Hospital Joplin in Missouri was designed to withstand winds of up to 250 mph.
The $465 million structure replaces St. John's Regional Medical Center that was destroyed in a 2011 tornado that devastated the city. The new 900,000 sf facility is scheduled to open 46 months after the storm struck.
The new hospital features a window and frame system that can protect patients from winds of up to 250 mph. The structure was built with a concrete roof and a precast concrete outer shell.
Engineers and architects with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and HKS Architects studied the storm’s aftermath and applied lessons drawn from that analysis in the new building.
Other buildings own by Mercy have also been shored up to withstand high winds. Strengthened windows have been added to other Mercy buildings including an orthopedic hospital in Springfield, Missouri, and a rehabilitation hospital in Oklahoma City.
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 9, 2019
Tampere psychiatric clinic features a modern, locally rooted ambiance for patients and staff
C.F. Møller Architects is designing the project.
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 2, 2019
Veterans' mental health needs are central to Seattle VA's design
Called the Seattle Veterans Affairs Mental Health and Research Building, the structure is meant to enhance patient care.
Healthcare Facilities | May 24, 2019
Beyond the corner store: Where retail health is headed
New players are redefining what retail health might look like by embracing technologies including mobile apps, telehealth, and artificial intelligence.
Healthcare Facilities | May 16, 2019
ASU Health Futures Center combines a novel design and approach to learning
The trapezoidal shape of the building is an eco-friendly feature.
Healthcare Facilities | May 9, 2019
Construction of new children’s hospital addition in NW Florida had to weather several storms
Patient and staff care were primary concerns during this 25-month project, says its GC.
Healthcare Facilities | May 3, 2019
The healthcare sector is turning to drones to supplement medical services
Leo A Daly’s Miami studio envisions a drone-powered hospital that enhances resilience to natural disasters.
| Apr 26, 2019
Greenwich Hospital upgrades boilers to improve operational efficiency
Greenwich Hospital, in Greenwich, Conn., chooses new Miura boilers.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 15, 2019
It’s official: China opens first green hospital, designed by HMC Architects
Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University is the official pilot green hospital for development of China’s green guide for hospital design.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 12, 2019
New health pavilion completes on the Health Education Campus at Case Western Reserve University
Foster + Partners designed the facility.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 9, 2019
How healthcare organizations can leverage design and culture's symbiotic relationship
The relationship between workplace design and company culture isn’t all that different from a tango.
