PHOTO TOUR: Carteret Health Care Specialty Pavilion and Bed Tower Expansion
Jim Roof, Jim Roof Creative
Inspired by tales of infamous pirates, American colonial history, and the maritime heritage of Carteret County, designers chose architectural elements for the rotunda and curved tiered glass waves to symbolize a lighthouse signaling safe harbor among the rhythmic tide of the sea.
Jim Roof, Jim Roof Creative
The three-story rotunda serves as the flagship’s new entrance and lobby and houses a central welcome desk and waiting areas along the perimeter.
Dale Ferrell, Ferrell Photographics
A decorative custom wallcovering featuring a sepia-tone aerial image of the Crystal Coast and local lighthouse leads from the rotunda to the Community Conference and Education Center as well as a bistro and outdoor seating area.
Dale Ferrell, Ferrell Photographics
The cancer center welcomes patients and families with a living room setting for respite and reflection. Infusion areas are placed along the exterior wall, with access to daylight and views overlooking a meditation garden.
Dale Ferrell, Ferrell Photographics
An interactive star ceiling system in the cancer center radiation treatment room encourages tranquility for the patient and promotes biophilic design strategies in a space where access to nature and daylight are limited.
Brad Styron, Styron Photo/Video
A second-floor balcony in the rotunda serves as a waiting space for the surgical services and patient tower. Using BIM software simulation, designers minimized heat gains with strategic placement of specially designed exterior louvres and a low-e glazing system.
Dale Ferrell, Ferrell Photographics
A custom sculptural light fixture, inspired by glass ball fishing floats, provide a focal point to the lobby, while giving a nod to the county’s history as a fishing port.
Dale Ferrell, Ferrell Photographics
Centralized and decentralized nurse stations encourage efficient workflow of staff, while reducing patient interruption during nurse observation. Design cues in the interior finishes and accent lighting are used to define staff, patient, and circulation zones.
Dale Ferrell, Ferrell Photographics
Designers used evidence-based design principles to right-size the patient rooms to accommodate patient, family, and staff while offering the ability to adapt to varying acuity levels. Adopting a universal patient room prototype, the design alleviates stress of staff through ease of use.
Located on the southern Outer Banks shoreline in Morehead City, N.C., Carteret Health Care recently opened a new specialty pavilion and patient tower expansion, reflecting a refreshed brand and vision at the community hospital.
Dazzling views of the renowned Crystal Coast are highlighted throughout the new facility and played an integral role in the architectural language and aesthetics expressed in the project. For example, the exterior canopy design is inspired by sails and rigs of passing nearby ships, while materials borrow from the blue hues of the coast, driftwood, and tabby (a cement made of lime, sand or gravel, and oyster shells).
Inside, lobby finishes emulate sandy, weathered tones, with highlights of radiant yellows and serene blues, while local artwork and photography are interwoven throughout to provide wayfinding elements and positive distractions for patients and visitors. In the patient rooms, warm wood tones are coupled with solid surface materials to continue the modern coastal theme.
Carteret and Earl Architects (Greenville, S.C.), the design firm on the project, conducted an extensive master planning process to guide the addition. Those efforts revealed the need for improved connectivity and departmental adjacencies, while also providing expansion of existing services and incorporating new specialty services to meet the needs of the growing community.
The phased project, which was completed in July 2017, houses an expanded med/surg unit, women’s services unit, critical care unit, progressive care unit, and a joint and spine unit, replacing existing patient rooms with 73 new private inpatient rooms.
Extended and new specialty services include an expanded surgical center, new cath lab, renovated emergency department and behavioral unit, and new central energy plant.
The expanded nationally accredited Commission on Cancer cancer center, a partnership with UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Care, provides imaging, clinical trials, telehealth, and radiation treatment.
Project details:
Project name: Carteret Health Care specialty pavilion and bed tower expansion
Location: Morehead City, N.C.
Completion date: July 2017
Owner: Carteret Health Care
Total Building Area (GSF): 120,461 (new); 17,396 (renovation)
Total construction cost (excluding land): $37.6 million (new); $4 million (renovation)
Construction cost per sq. foot: $312 (new); $230 (renovation)
Architecture: Earl Architects
Interior design: Maregatti Interiors
Engineering: Professional Engineering Associates, K.M. Armstrong Associates Inc., Shultz Engineering Group, Stroud Engineering P.A.
Construction: Rodgers Builders, T.A. Loving Co.
