Clarian West Medical Center
Cost: $170 million

Clarian West Medical Center in west suburban Avon, Ind., represented a learning experience.

The medical center is the first full-service hospital Indianapolis-based parent Clarian Health Partners constructed since the organization came into existence in 1997. Clarian is a partnership among Indiana University Hospital, Methodist Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children.

Population growth in Hendricks County drove the project, said Cathy Stoll, marketing and public relations manager for Clarian West. Indeed, census data finds that Hendricks is one of the 100 fastest growing counties in the United States.

"We did some research and found half the people in Hendricks County that required hospitalization were having to leave the county," she added. Hendricks Regional Health was the only hospital in the county before Clarian West was completed.

A Hospitable Hospital

Despite the newness of building a new hospital for the first time, Clarian wanted a progressive design.

Rather than an institutional look, the design goal was to have a welcoming and curative appearance.

Natural materials were emphasized, such as the stone dressing the building and a courtyard with garden, Stoll said. Many windows ensure substantial daylighting penetrates the interior. A fireplace is in a seating area.

"The hope is that people come onto the campus and walk into the building and not be overwhelmed with the thought, 'I'm in a hospital,'" Stoll added.

There are 1.5 mi. of walking trails on the hospital campus that the community is welcome to use.

Aesthetics aside, research shows that a hospitable environmental enhances the clinical care that patients receive.

The 380,000-sq.-ft. facility features many of the standard hospital facilities, including emergency care, five operating rooms and women's center. A professional office building that leases space to physicians is attached.

The three-story facility has 76 beds, including six critical care beds, six labor recovery beds and six pediatric beds.

The construction team tried to ensure a smooth relationship with nearby homeowners by distributing a newsletter about the project and avoiding excessive noise.

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