Exponential growth of staff and services, in addition to the rapidly changing standards in modern architecture, spurred the decision to embark on a $90 million expansion to Hardin Memorial Hospital’s facilities in Elizabethtown, Ky. Architectural metal products from CENTRIA played a key role in the design of the new facility.
Hardin Memorial Hospital is part of a network of facilities based within Hardin County. With a proud tradition of serving Kentucky residents for over 70 years, its doors opened with 61 employees. The hospital made several additions and renovations to the building over the years, yet the newest patient rooms were around 30 years old.
Today, more than 300 physicians and 40 specialists serve the 400,000-plus residents of Central Kentucky. The hospital is recognized as the fourth-busiest emergency department in the state, treating upwards of 70,000 patients in 2016. With over 2,389 employees on duty, the hospital is the third largest employer in in Hardin County and one of the busiest healthcare facilities in the state.
The health care facility wanted to provide improved patient-centered accommodations with an open, modern feel. They achieved the desired aesthetic with the use of an insulated metal panel (IMP) wall system by CENTRIA. The project incorporates a mix of lightweight Formawall Dimension Series IMPs and single-skin Concept Series rainscreen panels in a variety of striking hues.
“Part of the decision was because of color,” said Mark Trier, principal at JRA Architects. “Because we were adding on to the campus, we wanted to create a uniform look that is dramatic but at the same time respects the existing color. We were able to use Surrey Beige, which is a nice, soft color. We accented that with a maroon, which is the hospital’s signature color, and an aluminum gray. So, we were able to use the panels to reinforce the hospital’s branding.”
One of the primary goals of the hospital and design team was to get patients, staff and high-tech equipment into the new hospital facility as quickly as possible. Concept Series and Formawall Dimension Series panels gave them the convenience of all-weather installation capabilities and fast-track scheduling. The lightweight nature of Formawall Dimension Series panels makes them easy to handle and install and the panels helped move the project forward quickly.
In a major hospital setting, a safe and comfortable environment is necessary. CENTRIA panels delivered high performance insulation and weather-resistant technology. Formawall Dimension Horizontal Series panels deliver thermal efficiency and moisture control in a single panelized component with a factory foamed-in-place core, minimizing insulation gaps, along with a thermal break between the face and the liner. By utilizing pressure equalization along the length of the horizontal joinery, the panels offer superior weather resistance. Formawall Dimension Series panels are environmental product declaration (EPD) certified by UL Environment. EPDs rely on Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to provide information on a number of environmental impacts of products over their life cycle.
The architect was JRA Architects, Lexington, KY. The CENTRIA products dealer/installer was Merrick-Kemper, Louisville, KY. The contractor was Construction Co., Louisville, KY.
CENTRIA products used on this project included:
• Formawall® Dimension Series® 2" Horizontal - Square Feet: 23,570; Color: Light Gray; Coating: Fluorofinish®.
• Formawall Dimension Series 2" Horizontal - Square Feet: 12,315; Color: Surrey Beige; Coating: Flurofinish.
• Concept Series Concealed Fastener Panels CS-660 - Square Feet: 8,248; Color: Colonial Red; Coating: Fluorofinish.