Story County Medical Center

Nevada, IA, United States

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Story County Medical Center

Nevada, IA, United States

Firm

INVISION Architecture

Type

Government + Health › Hospital Medical Facility

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2017

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

BUDGET

$10M - 50M

This major 1-story addition to an existing hospital was the result of a new conceptual campus plan for a critical access hospital in Central Iowa. After exceeding the facility’s original capacity, the first step of the refreshed masterplan was the design of a new specialty clinic. The design features 18 new exam rooms and three minor procedure rooms. New therapy/wellness gyms are highlighted by large glass monitors oriented to capture soft morning sunlight, capitalizing on its healing qualities and activating the functional aspect of the spaces to outwardly promote wellness to the community. The new outpatient environments are oriented to maximize views to the surrounding rural landscape and utilize natural daylighting strategies. A key component to the project is a new main entrance to the hospital, incorporating a new porte-cochère allowing covered cueing space for multiple vehicles. The new entry is framed by Ipe cladding and accented by glass which emanates light and serves as a beacon for the hospital and the community it serves.

The project encompasses roughly 35,500 gross square feet of new construction and nearly 1,600 square feet of back-fill remodeling. Renovation and expansion of the existing dining room into the new Lobby will allow for service to the entire community and includes an Ipe deck for outdoor seating. It is a significant commitment by the organization to enhance this feature and create an expanded public dining experience for the campus.

The team worked to incorporate large graphics strategically placed at patient destinations and corresponding routes through the addition to assist with wayfinding for the aging demographic of the area. A unifying precept of the design was to deploy a formally simple diagram as a counterpoint to the existing facility. The wellness/therapy wing is clad in Ipé while the three clinic pods are readily identified by linen colored terracotta cladding, complementing the existing campus palette but providing a more progressive envelope design. These natural exterior materials are extrapolated into the interior through use of travertine tile and natural wood finishes creating a spa-like environment for patients and guests.