Indianapolis, Indiana

People/Products

The focal point of Community Hospital North’s recent expansion is a new six-story tower that houses one of the largest and most advanced women’s and children’s hospitals in the country. The facility is designed to attract young families, create long-time loyalty, and provide an exceptional healing environment. 

To achieve those goals, designers created luxurious labor-delivery-recovery-postpartum (LDRP) rooms, all private suites in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and a child-friendly pediatric unit.

A positive distraction that enhances the healing environment is a collection of 51 commissioned works by Indiana artists. The art is showcased in the gallery and throughout the hospital. Indeed, the entire facility caters to patients’ physical, psychological, and sociological needs, while helping caregivers work efficiently and safely.

“The building’s elliptical shape is tailored around clinical, support, and informatics criteria unique to women’s and children’s services,” said RTKL Vice President John Castorina, AIA, the lead designer. “The facility is also designed to positively affect patients. Healing and biochemistry go hand in hand, as emotions affect how we recover.  The building is a major instrument that manages stimuli for each individual, whether they are conscious of it or not.”

One important healing element is natural light, which suffuses the entrance gallery, patient rooms, and two centrally-located atria. The predominance of clear views and natural light is immediately evident as one approaches the spacious glass-enclosed gallery that spans the front of the tower.

LDRP rooms are designed to make this hospital the facility-of-choice for expectant mothers. They are configured to provide privacy for patients, and they include large family areas with hospitality-style amenities. Centrally-located rooms for high-risk expectant mothers provide views into a sun-lit atrium and access to an outdoor terrace.

The pediatric unit is designed to intrigue children with a tropical theme of water and jungle scenes. A treasure map motif takes children on an adventure as they follow a trail that wends through corridors to where “X” marks the spot—a playroom with a treasure chest and soft foam pirate ship. 


People

Owner:
Community Health Network

Architect:
RTKL Associates Inc.
1717 Pacific Ave., Dallas, TX 75201
214-871-8877 phone
214-871-7023 fax
www.rtkl.com

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
John Castorina, AIA, lead designer and principal in charge
Jim Johnson, AIA, project manager
Dori Mommers, interior designer
Aimee Platt, interior designer
Christy Murphy, project architect
Jorge Rodriguez, project architect

Architect of record:
RTKL Associates Inc. (responsible for master planning, architecture and interior design), www.rtkl.com

Engineer(s):
BSA LifeStructures of Indianapolis (responsible for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, site and structural and civil engineering), www.bsalifestructures.com

Consultant(s):
Other: RTKL Health Care Technologies, medical equipment planning, www.rtkl.com

General contractor:
Summit Construction Co. of Indianapolis (also served as construction manager), www.summitconst.com

Photographer(s):
© Jeffrey Totaro/Esto
215-925-3732 (photographer direct)
914-698-4060 (Esto Photographics)

© RTKL, John Jacobson
214-468-7727 (RTKL marketing)

 

Products

Exterior cladding:
Masonry: El Dorado Stone

Metal/glass curtainwall: Kawneer

Roofing:
Built-up roofing:  Firestone

Glazing:
Glass:  Viracon

Doors:
Wood doors:  Marshfield Doors

Interior finishes:
Acoustical ceilings: Celotex, The Sky Factory

Suspension grid: Celotex

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Corian, Wilsonart and Formica by Steve Industries and Sims

Paints and stains: MAB Paints to match Devoe / ICI doors

Wallcoverings: Custom Murals by National Wallcoverings and 4Walls

Paneling: Spectrim

Plastic laminate: Wilsonart, Formica

Special surfacing: Corian, 3-Form

Floor and wall tile: Daltile

Resilient flooring: VCT-Armstrong, Sheetvinyl-Metroflor and Mannington, Rubber-Mondo

Carpet: Mannington

Furnishings:
Office furniture: Haworth, Falcon, Nucraft

Reception furniture: Nemschoff, Jofco, Nucraft, Kimball Office, Brayton

Fixed seating: Casework by Stevens & Sims

Chairs: Knoll, Haworth, Gunlocke

Tables: Nucraft, Jofco, Nemschoff

Upholstery: Designtex, Maharam, Arc Com, Architex

Lighting:
Interior ambient lighting: Tech lighting, Hemera, Eureka, Shaper, LBL Lighting

Downlights: Lithonia

Task lighting: Lithonia

Plumbing:
Accessories: American Standard, Zurn, Just Manufacturing Company, Symmons, Aquabath
Fixtures: American Standard, Zurn