Sanjay Gangal Sanjay Gangal is the President of IBSystems, the parent company of AECCafe.com, MCADCafe, EDACafe.Com, GISCafe.Com, and ShareCG.Com.
St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington by ZGF Architects LLP
December 2nd, 2011 by Sanjay Gangal
Article source: ZGF Architects LLP
Prior to the completion of the new St. Anthony Hospital, the South Sound Region represented one of the largest population centers in the State of Washington without a central community hospital. As a result more than 3,500 emergencies and 4,000 patients requiring overnight care had to travel outside of the area for treatment annually. The 80-bed, 250,000 SF full service hospital in Gig Harbor addresses the need for critical health care services within this growing region, and provides quality care in a patient-centered environment that celebrates the local community’s Native American and maritime history, rich natural landscape, and the connection between nature, health and well-being.
Program
Featuring a 24-hour emergency department, the hospital is equipped to handle trauma cases and includes medical, surgical and critical care units; inpatient and outpatient surgery; a heart catheterization laboratory; diagnostic services (including MRI, CT scans, ultrasound and mammography); and physical, occupational and speech therapies. The main hospital is connected to the 95,000 SF Milgard Medical Pavilion which houses medical offices and the Jane Thompson Russell Cancer Care Center, an integrated cancer center offering programs for patients and families. The project also includes parking for 700 cars.
St. Anthony Hospital
Community, Context, and History
Engaging the close-knit South Sound community throughout the design process was a top priority for Franciscan Health System. As Gig Harbor is one of the few places on the west coast where the forest truly meets the sea, the regional culture boasts a rich maritime history set against a backdrop of deep wooded forests, panoramic landscapes, and breathtaking views to the water. Design of the hospital celebrates and weaves these unique attributes together to create a special experience reflective of the community—including an art program featuring work from local artists; placement of round HVAC vents to emulate the port holes of a boat; interior walls with wave-like patterns referencing the ebb and flow of the sea; and inclusion of a water feature within the healing garden that uses recycled water.
St. Anthony Hospital
Healing Garden
The building itself is nestled into the greenfield site embracing a central healing garden visible from all main public spaces. Additional view gardens are tucked around the building perimeter, providing glimpses of nature from every possible angle.
St. Anthony Hospital
Exterior Materials
Exterior materials incorporate an aluminum curtain wall system to maximize natural day-lighting, views, and a rich textural landscape composed of natural stone, poured concrete, wood panels and structural steel columns. The effect is warm and welcoming.
St. Anthony Hospital
Chapel Exterior and Materials
Reflecting the faith-based mission of the client, a 600 SF chapel is a significant element of the hospital. Visible from the main entrance, the chapel is designed as a space of tranquility, available for contemplation and prayer for people of all faiths and denominations. The simply shaped chapel is surrounded by a shallow pool of water to reference nature’s healing power. A focal concrete wall in the middle of the pool establishes a strong sense of presence and grounding. A glass wall overlooking the water is flanked by vertical wooden louvers suspended at different angles from stainless steel pins to emulate fins on a boat.
St. Anthony Hospital
Chapel Interior
Inside, a wood-paneled wall with exposed metal fasteners similar to those used in boat construction echoes the wood paneling on the hospital’s exterior. The choice of materials such as polished concrete flooring and wood clad walls create a simple, tranquil space.
St. Anthony Hospital
A Walk in the Woods
The natural beauty of the wooded forests surrounding the hospital, and the connection between nature and a patient’s journey from sickness back to health, also became key themes in development of the design. Borrowing inspiration from Robert Frost’s classic poem ‘A Road Not Taken,’ the team identified the characteristics and experiences that define ‘a walk in the woods’. Concepts such as exploration, silent reflection, moments of pause and visual connectivity between interior and exterior landscapes emerged as strong design fundamentals. These desired experiences were then translated into a set of design strategies that were applied to interior-exterior relationships. Terms such as ‘clearing,’ ‘glade,’ and ‘filtering of light’ were used to describe the kind of relationship between the interior and exterior environments throughout the hospital including treatments for views, landscape design, and interior space planning which in turn drove material selection, lighting design and even room layout.a
St. Anthony Hospital
Evidence Based Design
Studies have shown that daylight and views to nature can speed a patient’s overall well-being, provide an uplifting environment and positive distractions. The hospital layout maximizes access to windows for staff, family and patient areas including views to the lush wooded landscape from all patient rooms and staff lounges. Panels of glass in the central core are strategically located to provide views of nature. Single patient rooms, one of the most effective evidence-based design strategies proven to reduce the spread of infection between patients, are incorporated into the design of the hospital. To further reduce hospitalacquired infection, the layout is organized by program adjacencies with separate circulation pathways for the public, staff and patients.
St. Anthony Hospital
The presence of family is proven to help alleviate patient stress and encourage healing. To this end, all medical, surgical and ICU rooms are designed to accommodate a patients’ family and visitors who wish to stay overnight, with wireless internet and other amenities enabling visitors to stay in touch with loved ones unable to be at the hospital. Research also shows that low-sound levels lead to reduced noise, stress and improved sleep. Design of the hospital addresses acoustics with highperformance ceiling tiles, sound-absorbing materials, quiet mechanical equipment, separation of service and utility corridors from family and patient corridors, and single-patient rooms. Indirect lighting, which is provided throughout the hospital, also supports improved sleep.
St. Anthony Hospital
Milgard Medical Pavilion and Jane Thompson Russell Cancer Care Center
Connected to the hospital by an enclosed pedestrian bridge, the five-story Medical Pavilion echoes the architectural vocabulary and material selection of the hospital design. The west facade faces the garden to maximize daylight and views. Within the Medical Pavilion, the Cancer Care Center provides a welcoming and soothing environment using a palette with sea, earth and garden themes reflective of the region. To enhance the patient experience, a spa in the Cancer Care Center provides massage therapy, acupuncture, aroma therapy and other naturopathic alternatives. A Resource Center includes a “look good, feel better” area that provides wigs and other accessories to help patients feel good as they receive treatment. Counselors are also provided for private consultations. Conference and meeting rooms offer space for multidisciplinary physical meetings and conferences, support group meetings and educational seminars. A Nurse Navigator consultation room is provided to assist patients in scheduling and decision making for their course of treatment.
St. Anthony Hospital
The Pavilion also incorporates a 1,100 SF Mammography Clinic with a waiting area, dressing rooms, a mammography suite (including a low dose, digital diagnostic mammography unit) and support functions. The lobby and waiting areas are bathed in soft tones of blue and green to welcome and sooth patients. Hallways incorporate indirect lighting for a more intimate feel. A private hallway, dressing rooms and exam rooms have access to daylight via window transoms that provide privacy for the patients while giving them visual access to the outdoors. The Clinic was designed for future expansion as volumes increase.
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