MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Monroe Clinic’s replacement hospital in Monroe, Wis. has been awarded LEED-Silver certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. Kahler Slater designed the hospital and worked with Monroe Clinic’s staff throughout the certification process.
The 225,000-square-foot, four-story, $83-million hospital opened its doors in March 2012 and features 50 acute- and critical-care beds, an expanded emergency department, imaging, a surgery and procedure center, birthing and women’s health services, a cardiology department and cardiac rehabilitation services.
The most visible sign of the hospital’s commitment to sustainability is its three intensive vegetative roofs, totaling 11,000 square feet. Two are near patient rooms and the third, by the chapel, is accessible to staff, patients and visitors. Additional sustainable strategies include:
- Leading-edge boilers and chillers that are more than 30 percent more efficient than code requirements were installed, reducing the hospital’s annual energy costs by over $200,000.
- Modular heat recovery chillers allow heated supply air to be returned to warm incoming fresh air, further cutting heating and cooling costs by 30 percent to 35 percent.
Excess heat from the data center is captured and funneled to the helipad’s coiling ice-melt system during Wisconsin’s cold, snowy winters, helping ensure safety and eliminating the need to spread chemical de-icing agents on the landing area and walking paths.- The water softening system is equipped with brine reclamation technology that returns some of the salt water to the brine tank for reuse. The system uses 25 percent less water and salt than conventional systems and reduces the amount of brine sent to the local water treatment facility.
- The entire building is equipped with energy-efficient lighting, reducing the hospital’s energy use by 30 percent and lowering annual energy costs by more than $35,000.
- More than 90 percent of construction waste – 5,276 tons in all – was recycled.
- 143 tons of scrap drywall generated during construction was repurposed as soil amendment and animal bedding at a nearby farm, greatly improving cow comfort and saving Monroe Clinic the cost of disposing of the drywall.
- High-performance Low-E windows and exterior sun shades focus patient attention outward while reducing summer heat absorption and winter heat loss.
- All plumbing components, from faucets to toilets and showerheads, are low-flow to reduce water consumption. Toilets are equipped with dual-flush systems, allowing users to control their water consumption.
- Bottle fillers are located at drinking fountains to encourage sufficient hydration for staff and other users and reduce waste from plastic water bottles.
- Low-VOC (volatile organic compound), ceramic-based paints were used throughout the building, helping maintain healthy indoor air quality.
- The hospital was built on the site of a former hospital parking lot, thus maintaining the campus footprint and preserving adjacent neighborhoods.
- Taking advantage of the building site’s natural slope, the central utility plant was designed as a two-story space, cutting the plant’s footprint in half.
- The 500-space staff parking lot was designed with narrower parking spaces that, while still wide enough for easy access, saved more than 5,000 square feet of asphalt.
- Campus water runoff is directed to a dry retention pond, reducing municipal stormwater management capacity requirements.
Excess heat from the data center is captured and funneled to the helipad’s coiling ice-melt system during Wisconsin’s cold, snowy winters, helping ensure safety and eliminating the need to spread chemical de-icing agents on the landing area and walking paths.
