Advanced Care Facility Arrives in Asheville

Mission Hospital North Tower, a 12-story, 615,000-square-foot concrete surgical tower nestled in the mountain city of Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest project ever built in the city. With this new expansion on campus, Mission Health’s patient population now has access to advanced services within a facility that emphasizes connectivity, efficiency, ease of wayfinding and striking views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. 

The new hospital expansion and consolidation includes more than 200 acute and intensive care rooms, a 79-bay emergency department, 94 prep and recovery exam rooms, 10 operating rooms, six catheterization labs, four interventional radiology rooms, 40 post-anesthesia care unit bays and a rooftop helipad.

Limiting expensive excavation and allowing existing building connections shaped the building footprint and massing, resulting in a compact, simple, layered form. By placing the inpatient bed tower on top of a larger diagnostic plinth and splitting mechanical zones between the lowest, intermediate and highest floors, the team was able to achieve a slim tower oriented to the best views east and west.

A Healthcare Beacon on Top of the City

From its perch at one of the highest points in Asheville, the new hospital overlooks the entire city. Clad in a variety of earthy and scalable materials such as brick, metal and terra cotta panels, the façade responds to contextual surroundings including existing buildings on campus and the palette of the landscape. Sun shading provides functional advantage and aesthetic beauty.

The interior experience was crafted to reflect the rich local art culture and breathtaking setting within the blue ridge mountains. A variety of textural, soft and inviting elements establish a familiar hospitality-like setting, accentuated with a variety of lighting schemes to complement abundant daylight and, along with stunning views, complete the comforting atmosphere throughout the facility.

Emergency Department Biocontainment Strategy

The emergency department at Mission Hospital was designed into eight neighborhoods of 12 rooms, each outfitted with proper support spaces to ensure self-reliance. Control doors were placed at the perimeter of each neighborhood providing maximum flexibility for potential containment. The neighborhood closest to the ambulance entry was mechanically designed to be completely isolated for maximum quarantine in pandemic situations.