Project Category – New Construction (completed January 2001)

Facility Contact – Bruce Brown, Director of Facilities Management, (603) 444-7731

Firm – Lavallee/Brensinger Architects, (603) 622-5450

Design Team – Steve Clayman, Vice-President; Barry Brensinger, CEO; Ken Coombs, Project Architect (Lavallee/Brensinger Architects); Ben Harrington, Division Manager; Dan Smith, Project Manager (H.P. Cummings Construction Co.)

Patient/Bed Capacity – 42 beds

Total Building Area (sq. ft.) – 120,000

Total Land Area (acres) – Approximately 20

Total Cost (excluding land) – $24,000,000


After struggling for years in an aging facility, the Littleton Regional Hospital took the bold step of building a new home. The hospital promptly established several goals for the design team: The new facility must be comfortable, friendly and respectful of patients’ privacy; all clinical activities must be on one floor and must function with equal efficiency for both inpatient and outpatient services; the facility should be flexible, expandable and, finally, must feel as though it belongs in the community.

On a donated site, perched on a knoll surrounded by spectacular scenery, a building was created that met each aspect of the hospital’s aspirations. Using New England vernacular building materials of clapboard siding, brick, stone and sloped roofs, the new hospital resembles a cluster of rural buildings. All clinical services are on one level, while support services and an education center are tucked into the slope of the site on a lower level.

All inpatient traffic is separated from that of ambulatory patients and visitors. A clearly defined ambulatory walkway leads directly from the lobby to each of the major clinical areas of the building. Wood- and glass-screened waiting areas serve each of these departments from this “Main Street.” The inpatient corridor provides direct access from the patient care unit to each diagnostic/treatment department.

Because a limited budget presented challenges, common and familiar building products were used throughout the facility. Public spaces were kept to modest sizes, yet detailed to create familiar and comfortable settings for the often stressful activities of a hospital visit.