The 517,000-square-foot facility, which opened this summer, is the only Level 1 trauma center in the region for adults and includes 211 patient beds, with design provisions for an additional 135 more beds in the future. As a teaching hospital for the university, the new facility incorporates medical education components that will enhance collaboration among students, medical staff and patients.

Ascension, the owner of the facility, set high standards for a design team that included WSP USA as the project’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineer; and HKS as the architect.

“In the health care field, sustainability and building performance are measured by energy efficiency, while hospitals are graded on patient outcomes and satisfaction,” said Shaun Grimm, project manager for WSP. “Ascension has set particularly high standards for these objectives.”

MEP strategies to reduce and optimize energy use and water use were designed to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

“The owner embraced the architectural and engineering practices employed in the project to support the attainment of these goals,” Grimm said.