An architecture that imbues a sense of harmony is achieved by the relationships created by the new tower. By providing a compact solution to the site, the new building creates a harmonious intervention to the existing campus. A green thoroughfare between the existing and new buildings enhances the visitor experience by providing relief from the intensive medical environment. These serene spaces are for contemplation, solitude, and healing and connect patients/staff to nature and daylight. The large patient room windows and indoor/outdoor public spaces offer beautiful panoramic views to the Palos Verdes Hills and access to nature.
The design team focused on patient care and comfort of visiting family members. Family-friendly lounges and overnight spaces were added, as well as a healing garden and chapel. Gently curved nurses’ stations allow for visibility of patient rooms and better care. The entrance of the new tower, positioned at the end of a bustling outdoor plaza, opens to a bright and open lobby. An indoor-outdoor cafeteria, gift shop, admittance services, and a spiritual place are all easily accessible on the first floor.
In addition to creating a permeable ground level, visual transparency on the first floor eases way-finding for this vibrant 24-hour facility. While located on two different sides of the building, the discharge zone and the drop off/parking zone have a clear visual connection. Linking the new tower to the existing facility with connectors ensures a seamless flow of function and services between the new tower and the existing facilities.
The tower’s new façade creates a captivating frontage and an updated image for the medical center. Taking advantage of the repetitive patient room modules, the façade becomes a pattern of transparent, semi-transparent, and opaque materials. The play between ribbon window systems, precast concrete panels, and metal panels creates a harmonious composition. Similar to the sections of a symphonic orchestra, individual components, when composed together, become one holistic piece. As a healthcare facility, the architectural language conveys a sense of order as well as expressing what can be a visceral and spiritual experience to users.
Environmental impacts that the facility would incur over its life were minimized by incorporating optimal building orientation to reduce solar heat gain; individual temperature controls to reduce energy use by eliminating unwanted or unnecessary space conditioning; white roof to minimize heat gain; recycled content and environmentally friendly finishes; use of landscaping and the creation of a healing garden to reduce the "heat island effect" from excessive use of hardscape; and low-level perimeter building lighting to reduce light pollution. The project is targeted to meet the sustainability standards of LEED® Silver certification.
