Materials, Water Efficiency Key Sustainability Drivers for LEED-Silver Hospital Tower

UF Health North’s 92-bed inpatient tower recently earned LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The 160,000-square-foot, five-story building, which opened in February 2017, expands UF Health’s footprint and delivers quality care to a previously underserved area in North Jacksonville, Florida.

Materials, resources and site sustainability were key drivers for certification. Highlights of the project’s sustainable design include:

Green roof, which reduces heat island effect, while also providing positive distractions for patients, staff and visitors
44% reduction in potable water use
Outdoor courtyard and garden, with designated patient and visitor and staff-only spaces, providing direct access to the exterior, an area of respite and connection to nature
Diversion of 79% of all onsite construction debris from the landfill
Bike storage and showers, hybrid vehicle charging/parking stations and carpool parking to encourage alternative modes of transportation
Adaptable, flexible design to allow for expansion and ease of adaptive reuse
Walkable project site including continuous sidewalks connecting to public sidewalks

The project helps elevate the UF Health brand to attract both patients and high-quality staff to the facility. The inpatient tower was phase II of the hospital project and connects to a six-story, 200,000-square-foot ambulatory care and medical office complex.