Hope is Growing

St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, has committed to environmental sustainability for the long haul, demonstrated by its designation as an environmental leader by Practice Greenhealth for five years running. An expansion that includes a new atrium, the St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center at St. Mary’s Hospital, and multiple healing gardens opened in 2010.

St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center was interested in a healing garden for some time and hadn’t found the right location. With the new addition, the opportunity for several gardens came to life. Sustainable operations required improving systems within an existing space, and the new addition offered an opportunity to get something right from the ground up.

St. Mary’s describes the project as its crown jewel and reflects on its 10 years of consistent commitment to environmental stewardship as stepping stones to a place it never dreamed of reaching.

Hospital Sisters Health System

St. Mary’s is part of the Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a 13-facility system located in Wisconsin and Illinois. Hospital Sisters is an international, multicultural congregation of Franciscan Sisters. The hospital sisters follow a reverence for the earth, and this deep core value drives their work. The St. Mary’s project was a major part of the HSHS ongoing initiative to express its values in architecture and interiors. As design progressed, nature—in the form of gardens, stone, wood, daylight, and colors—became the driving force. These principles continue to guide design throughout the system.

Partners in healing

Berners-Schober has partnered with Hospital Sisters over many years and was the lead on the project. In-house architects, engineers, and designers facilitated the integrated team approach. Landscape design was provided by Higgins & Gerstenmaier of Richmond, Virginia. The development of the HSHS Franciscan environment was a joint effort involving the Sisters in Springfield, Illinois; Berners-Schober; Odell Associates of Richmond, Virginia; and St Mary’s.

The addition was an opportunity to create a new space while simultaneously improving upon the existing inpatient care facility. The integrated team created a formal entryway with valet parking and a lobby with vaulted ceilings, fireplace, and natural daylight. With the firm commitment to environmental stewardship as a core value, emphasis on healthier materials and patient comfort was critical. People coming there are in need of a warm, comfortable environment, where they can reflect and receive treatment for their illness in a healthy and calming environment.   

The setting, views of nature, radiant flooring, and use of safer materials helped achieve this goal. Materials free of chlorinated plastics and formaldehyde were identified. The team specified materials with a focus on operational opportunities for reduced chemical use—for example, rubber floors and a nonPVC resilient plank were chosen to avoid the need for harsh chemicals in the cleaning process.

Other materials were selected for their recycled content. In a first for the health system, 11 streams of material were segregated for recycling during construction. The segregation and material diversion reporting is now a standard for all construction projects within Hospital Sisters.