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.

The project team included Gresham Smith, Batson-Cook Construction and Danis Construction.