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Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Community Hospital
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Community Hospital
Okemah, OK, United States
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Other Projects by 1Architecture
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Community Hospital
Okemah, OK, United States
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2018
SIZE
100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft
BUDGET
$50M - 100M
Where some may have seen challenge, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation saw opportunity. When faced with the need to address an aging hospital in rural Okemah, Oklahoma, the Tribe responded by planning a comprehensive regional wellness campus. This cornerstone project, a 122,000 sf hospital, sets the standard for healthcare in the region and proudly tells the story of the Muscogee People. This story is one of respect for the Earth, tradition, and culture, all in the spirit of healing.
An understanding of the spirit of the site combined with sustainable strategies was primordial in developing the layout and organization of the facility. An existing waterway dictated orientation and served as an anchor; connecting and aligning the facility to the earth. The gentle curve, the primary building shape, represents eternal flowing wind. The entry and main courtyard create a strong central axis that is punctuated by a prominent glass tower. The traditional healing garden in the courtyard is the heart of the project, featuring running water echoing the healing power of water as “the first medicine”.
A large cedar canopy welcomes visitors and compresses the space at the entry to evoke the feel of entering a sacred mound. After this compression, the space opens up into a light-filled room with a view of the courtyard. Twenty-eight foot tall earthen walls create the room’s boundary with a smooth white floor underfoot containing engraved clan names. The rammed earth expresses the richness and variance of a culture comprised of different Clans and families with individual histories that combined form a powerful tapestry. It is here one can best observe the juxtaposition of natural materials with sleek, modern glass and metal panels as they extend toward the horizon, capturing the links between the past and future of the Tribe and its healthcare.
An understanding of the spirit of the site combined with sustainable strategies was primordial in developing the layout and organization of the facility. An existing waterway dictated orientation and served as an anchor; connecting and aligning the facility to the earth. The gentle curve, the primary building shape, represents eternal flowing wind. The entry and main courtyard create a strong central axis that is punctuated by a prominent glass tower. The traditional healing garden in the courtyard is the heart of the project, featuring running water echoing the healing power of water as “the first medicine”.
A large cedar canopy welcomes visitors and compresses the space at the entry to evoke the feel of entering a sacred mound. After this compression, the space opens up into a light-filled room with a view of the courtyard. Twenty-eight foot tall earthen walls create the room’s boundary with a smooth white floor underfoot containing engraved clan names. The rammed earth expresses the richness and variance of a culture comprised of different Clans and families with individual histories that combined form a powerful tapestry. It is here one can best observe the juxtaposition of natural materials with sleek, modern glass and metal panels as they extend toward the horizon, capturing the links between the past and future of the Tribe and its healthcare.