The Hospital Christus Muguerza del Sur, a 100-bed, 170,000-sq.-ft. acute care hospital and 70,000-sq.-ft. medical office building, provides medical and surgical care including intensive care, obstetric care, and pediatric care services.

The 10-acre site slopes gently across the site in two directions. The irregularly shaped property dictated a design of two triangular nursing wings meeting at a central atrium space. Triangular nursing units were requested by the owner.

The site is located between two branches of the Sierra Madre mountain range, offering views to mountain vistas from many patient rooms. The exterior complements the natural environment with green reflective glass and an earth-toned color palette, while the patterned motif with multiple color accents creates a visual identity. The orange and blue accent colors derive from the owner’s interest in Asian temples and culture.


A five-story, circular glass rotunda serves as the hospital’s main entry. A recessed courtyard adjacent to the dining facilities offers water features, views to nature, and dining spaces. Quiet, healing spaces are screened from vehicular activity by curving, brightly colored concrete walls with punched openings. Larger waiting areas and patient rooms easily accommodate family members.


The hospital hosts sustainable design elements such as low-E, insulated, tinted glass, an insulated EIFS wall system, and vented windows in each patient room.

Horizontal expansion was planned towards the back of the building to avoid creating future interruptions along the entrance façade. Outpatient treatment functions are adjacent to the emergency department for future incorporation if needed.

Project category: New construction (completed January 2006)

Chief administrator: Fernando Ferrara, Chief Executive Officer, 011-52-81-8174-3508

Firm: HKS, Inc., (214) 969-5599

Design team: Bruce Johnson, AIA, Principal-in-Charge/Project Manager; Mark Buskuhl, Design Architect; Mauricio Rojas, Architect; Jack Yardley, FAIA, Principal Designer (HKS, Inc.); Hector Gomez, MEP Engineer (Hector Gomez Engineers, Inc.)

Photography: Blake Marvin

Total building area (sq. ft.): 245,000

Construction cost/sq. ft.: Not Released

Total construction cost (excluding land): Not Released