PROJECT REPORT: HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS 35


maintain moisture during dry seasons, and control rainwater during wetter periods. “It promotes biodiversity and creates a self-sustaining landscape that won’t need regular irrigation after the first two years.” This approach in turn also provides refuge for wildlife such as small animals and birds. Although the building has been designed with a large amount of curtain wall glazing, less reflective glazing and fewer mullions were specified in order to minimise bird strikes. External lighting was also designed carefully to limit uplight and glare on both local wildlife and communities, and this will be reduced further when the trees reach maturity.


Musculoskeletal inspiration Emory was heavily involved in the design process from the outset in October 2018. In particular, Dr Scott Boden, chair of orthopaedics at Emory University’s School of Medicine, played a big part and influenced many of the key decisions. “He was a strong advocate for the functional layout, design expression, and the push for LEED Gold,” Campbell says. “His passion for creating a healthy environment for occupants, and environmental responsibility, led the design team to map out a path to achieve net zero.” Although not fully carbon neutral, the building does currently achieve 50% less operational and embodied carbon than the average


ADF DECEMBER 2022


healthcare project. From the beginning, Emory made it clear they didn’t want the building to be a “plain rectangular box.” Fluidity of motion and the musculoskeletal structure were key influences, “referenced beautifully” throughout both the interior and exterior. “This ethos informed the overall design of the building and the expression of the curvilinear forms represented,” Campbell explains. “Furthering the concept, the interior abstractly reflects the symbiotic relationship between the four components of the musculoskeletal system: bones, cartilage, muscles, and nerves.” A particular quote from Dr Boden was a great source of inspiration for HKS: “Every day we work together to give patients their lives back, innovate new treatments and inspire the next generation.” This, says Campbell, focused them on the fact they were designing something to make people’s lives better. “From the beginning, we recognised that the healing process benefits from a healthy building with clean air and natural elements that provide comfort and distraction from ills and pains.” This way of thinking led the design team to incorporate physiological forms into both the architecture and landscape. “Interior elements mimic neuro ganglion and soft bone cells of the body, the exterior curtain wall alludes to bone structure, and the landscape incorporates vertebral forms


Less reflective glazing and fewer mullions were specified in order to minimise bird strikes


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