Designed by Nebraska-based HDR Architecture, the $96 million tower is an eight-story building, and represents the first significant upgrade to the medical center since the 1990s.
The medical center has undergone renovation to get rid of the ‘utilitarian’ and ‘institutional’ feel, typical of hospitals built in the 1960s. HDR was shouldered with the responsibility of integrating aesthetic and functional appeal to the facility.
The planning for the new tower began in 2005 and has incorporated design proposals from the hospital administration, caregivers, HDR healthcare consultants, and the design team. From the beginning, the team decided to provide a fully-advanced hospital that incorporates cutting-edge healthcare with hospitality-inspired architecture.
The interiors of the patient tower displays a hospitality-inspired environment similar to a traditional, upscale hotel. Design elements include valet parking, concierge services, warm colors, dark cherry wood furnishings, and casework, as well as dietary room service.
Other interior design elements that enhance the facility’s aesthetic appeal are framed photography, winter garden, pleasant patient rooms and community space. Each floor of the tower displays a photography theme, such as seasons, gardens, and landscapes. These themes, along with improving the aesthetic look of the space, act as way-finding elements.
The winter garden integrated into the facility is designed to act as a link between the main lobby, auditorium, café, and existing hospital. The garden features a fireplace, lobby seating, skylights, and elevators to the new patient tower.
Each patient room is designed to create familiar atmosphere. Calming atmosphere is infused into the rooms with lighter wood tones, wood casework and a wood-like floor. Neutral color palettes used with a color accent on the foot wall that can easily be changed when required. Each room features a family zone and different lighting options.
The community space in the tower features a 350-seat public auditorium that can be divided into three separate rooms and can be used for community events.
Through a partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago, the 480-bed Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is the only provider of neurosurgical services in the Will-Grundy region.
