In addition to incorporating medical efficiency and patient comfort-driven healthcare and education program, the SOM design for Jesse Brown Medical Center, developed in collaboration with the firm Ellerbe/Becket, was able to creatively rethink the juxtaposition of on-site hospital buildings. The plan for Jesse Brown enabled the creation of a central quad-like garden/courtyard that adds a natural orientation and a humane, campus-like feel to the entire VA complex at virtually no additional cost.

Project Facts

Completion Year: 2008
Site Area: 52,000 ft²
Project Area: 253,000 ft²
Building Height: 170 ft
Number of Stories: 8

SOM in association with Ellerbe/Becket designed the Jesse Brown Medical Center, a 240,000 sf, 200-bed patient tower for the Veterans Administration (VA) at the Illinois Medical District. The primary sustainable design focus was to shape and orient the building to maximize exposure to sunlight. The principles outlined additional sustainable design elements as well as a plan to centralize numerous regional in- and outpatient VA services, including a new high security mental health unit and emergency and surgical suites.

The Master Plan creatively juxtaposed the on-site hospital buildings to preserve an existing outdoor courtyard and transform it into the social heart of the campus, strengthening the community for Veterans. To effectively conserve energy and improve the healing environment, the building takes full advantage of the southern sun. The entrance lobby, all public circulation elements, waiting rooms and chapel are concentrated on the building’s south side in order to maximize daylighting, while all service functions are located on the north side.

The building façades vary according to their orientation, with continuous horizontal sunscreens on the south side, to a solid brick mass on the north side, punctuated by deeply punched window openings. A variegated horizontal frit pattern on high performance dual glazing further moderates solar gain and reduces glare.

The design also includes a green roof that insulates the building and improves storm water retention. Additionally, all materials were evaluated for their local and recycled content and their contribution to the healing environment.