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rovidence Mount Carmel Hospital's targeted strategy in planning and designing its $34-million, 70,600-square-foot replacement facility was to bring advanced technology and expanded services to the rural community of Colville in northeast Washington State with a sharp eye toward achieving short- and long-term energy effi ciencies and economies. The project stakeholders were successful: the critical access hospital was recently awarded the Energy Star rating.
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"Our primary goals for the replacement hospital were to update the infrastructure and enhance the quality of patient care, and to do so as effi ciently and effectively as possible within the confi nes of the limited budget," said Robert D. Campbell, CEO of Stevens County Ministry and president of Providence Mount Carmel Hospital. "Sustainability was a critical criterion as well. Our focus on resource conservation and an energy-effi cient build- ing minimizes costs, which is a benefi t to patients and employers, who pay for healthcare."
The 25-bed hospital houses admitting, emergency, imaging, dietary, outpatient surgery and lab services and a new central energy plant on the fi rst fl oor. Acute care, critical care, obstetrics and pharmacy departments are
on the second fl oor. Only administration and records are housed in the original 70,000-square-foot building, which was completed in 1952.
High-effi ciency HVAC, equipment leads to big savings
Because a building's mechanical and electrical systems typically account for 70 percent of the structure's energy use, the systems' design and components were key to achieving the desired results. The energy-effi ciency improvements incorporated in the new facility qualifi ed the hospital for an Avista Utilities incentive check for more than $58,000. Providence Mount Carmel exceeded current Washington State commercial energy codes by installing high-effi ciency equipment for building heating and domestic hot water boilers, air-conditioning chillers, variable-frequen- cy drives on circulating pumps, lighting and food-service equipment in the new hospital. "A community needs to be able to trust the care pro- vided at a hospital; a modern, up-to-date facility builds trust," Campbell said. "When you're 75 miles away from our Regional Referral Center – especially when it's winter and snowing – it's important to have a reliable, high-quality facility nearby. That in itself contributes to the sustainability of a community."
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1. MW Consulting Engineers' architectural lighting designers selected fi xtures to create a welcoming, soothing environment in the reception area. Tucked two stories above are 100-watt metal halide recessed down lights to provide task lighting. 2. A new central energy plant was designed with high-effi ciency water-cooled chillers and redundant heating water boilers for continued heating capability, even during partial equipment failure. 3. The entry is illuminated by emergency versions of metal halide recessed down lights specifi ed with a quartz re-strike in the event of a power loss.
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March/April 2012 | Medical Construction & Design 25
