Sanford Cardiovascular Hospital

摘要

The Sanford Cardiovascular Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.Dak., looks more like a castle than a medical building. The 213,000 ft~2 (19,800 m~2) hospital features a soaring clock tower, breezy open entryways, a detailed thin brick facade, and rich coloring that reflects the institution's signature collegiate gothic style. The Gothic look was achieved quickly and cost effectively through the use of a high-performance precast concrete facade, says Tom Kelley, president of Gage Brothers. Precast concrete wasn't part of the original design. Initially, the owners envisioned a conventional full-brick job with steel stud backup, but it just wasn't practical. The time and cost to scaffold and brick the massive structure were untenable and would have caused unacceptable disruption, Kelley says. "It was a very tight site on a large host campus, so site disturbance and lack of room for a masonry crew did not make sense."