| New Medical Center for the Chickasaw Nation Influenced by Native American Culture and Art |
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Native American culture emphasizes respect for nature, and the medical center incorporates the beauty of the site as well as deference to its ecology as fully as possible into the design. Chickasaw and other Native American culture and art influenced the development of the architectural character of both the interior and exterior of the medical center. Patterns in basket weaving and textiles inspired fenestration and surface treatment of elevations as well as cabinet details and tile configurations. A Chickasaw beaded necklace influenced the faceted treatment of most public parts of the building as well as patterns in terrazzo floors and concourse ceilings. Traditional Chickasaw colors with spiritual and cultural meaning provided the springboard for color selection throughout the building. A public space referred to as the “town center” occupies the mid-point of the building and separates hospital functions to the southeast from clinic functions to the northwest. This is an important civic venue for the entire Chickasaw Nation.
The whole site is seen as a healing environment, not only for the patient, but also for their families and other visitors. There is no explicit or artificial “healing garden” but rather a whole series of landscape spaces for rejuvenation. Public spaces open directly onto the meadow with trails and paths that lead throughout the larger site. The chapel acknowledges spiritual rituals that need to take place outdoors as well as indoors. The medical center, which was constructed by Flintco, features a Level III emergency department, ambulatory care facility, diabetes care center, dental clinic, diagnostic imaging center, women's health center, administrative offices and tribal health programs. PageSoutherlandPage provided planning, programming, medical planning, architecture, interior design, MEP and civil engineering. Team leaders included: Principal in Charge – Matthew F. Kreisle, III, AIA Media Contact: Nancy Acker Fleshman - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
Austin, TX (15 August 2010) – More than 1,000 tribal officials, citizens, staff and guests joined Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby for the official opening on July 19 of the new Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, Oklahoma. Designed by PageSoutherlandPage, the 358,000-square-foot, 72-bed medical center is located on 230 acres of tribal lands. With direction from tribal leadership, the design of the medical center is strongly influenced by, as well as connected to, its site, region and local culture.
For the Chickasaw people, caring for the ill is a community function. Larger visitor spaces in patient rooms, pleasant community rooms on the patient floors as well as the central gathering space in the town center all provide for the larger community’s participation in healthcare. Design of the patient rooms not only makes special provisions for extended family, but also pays particular attention to the experience of a person spending a prolonged period of time in bed. Ceilings are raised from nine feet for part of the room to twelve feet near the window, and walls are canted in the room so that the bed faces diagonally toward the window wall and exterior views.