Specialty-Blend Brick, Tribal Artwork Adorn New Choctaw Nation Regional Medical Clinic

The new Choctaw Nation Regional Medical Clinic in Durant, Oklahoma, is a 20-acre, campus-style development, which includes three buildings totaling 180,000 square feet. The campus includes a clinic, health administration space and facilities maintenance. The project team included Robins & Morton, James Childers Architect, Inc. and Casey A. Architect, Inc.

Much of the southern exterior is covered with “Choctaw Blend” brick, which was created exclusively for the Choctaw Nation by the ACME brick company. Due to increased interest, the brick will eventually be made available to the general public. Sculptures of life-sized figures dressed in traditional tribal attire by artist Matthew Placzek stand outside the entry. LEED certified, the clinic has a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Inside, artwork by Choctow artists lines the interior walls. The main lobby on the east side of the facility has walls with glass to the ceiling. Bordering the grand staircase of the lobby, the south-side wall consists of Sage glass. Placement required both glass installers and electricians to be involved. The glass panels contain electric sensors that tint according to the amount of sunlight hitting them, providing cost and energy savings, as well as temperature control.