Castle Rock, Colo. — The new Castle Rock Adventist Hospital, designed by healthcare architects HuntonBrady Architects, recently opened in a growing suburb of Denver, Colo. The architecture of the four-story, 219,000-square-foot building reflects the hospital’s holistic, whole-person approach to healthcare and wellness. It was intentionally designed with evidence-based architectural details that enhance the healing environment and provide places of hope, health and respite for patients, their families and caregivers. This is the second stage in a multi-phased health campus developed by Centura Health in the city of Castle Rock.
The architecture team developed a 20-year masterplan to accommodate growth to 250 beds, and created design drivers to guide decisions, such as: CRAHC will be a community epicenter and landmark, embody the soul and spirit of its site and context and promote community wellness and health. A 26,000-square-foot emergency department and imaging center, which opened in 2012 as part of Phase I of the new health campus, addressed the most needed services for the community.
Phase 2 is the hospital’s recently opening with 50 patient beds and a separate medical office building. The hospital sits on a prominent site with sweeping views of the Rocky Mountain ranges. The public face of the building is a dramatic four-story lobby, profusely washed with natural light. The integration of natural light and art as key design elements into the architecture creates spaces that are unique and an ecology that enhances health and wellness.
The architecture firm designed both the emergency department and hospital in mountain modern style, a modern interpretation of rocky mountain architecture, and oriented it to take advantage of majestic mountain views to optimize the healing environment for patients and staff.
“A collaborative process between the architect and the owner was key to the success of the project,” said Paul Macheske, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP, healthcare design practice leader for HuntonBrady. “This particular site demanded a strong architectural statement. The use of local materials, including stone and wood, and the incorporation of true modern materials, such as glass and steel, makes this building one that recognizes the soul and spirit of the site.” The architects were guided by Evidence-Based Design principles, which recognize the importance of architecture in the healing process through patient safety, patient outcomes, the importance of staff environment, infection control, noise attenuation, daylight, views of nature, art and gardens.
A great amount of thought and testing went into design for circulation of the public and the flow of materials, staff and patients. Separation of the two groups resulted in development of a public concourse, grand entry, vertical circulation and gathering spaces. A secondary “back of house” circulation system connects the service entry and elevators so that food and supplies move quickly to their destination. Patients are transported to the ED, imaging, surgery and bed units with little intrusion into public spaces. The hospital grounds feature a community Garden of Eatin’ where members of the community can rent one of 90 plots and congregate in a holistic, healing environment to grow nutritious foods. Instead of a cafeteria, the hospital created Manna Restaurant, a full-service modern dining room with wait staff and seasonal outdoor spots where guests can watch their meal prepared to order by chefs under Chef de Cuisine Adam Freisem. Chef Adam will feature vegetables and herbs from the community garden in a seasonal, rotating menu that reflects Colorado’s growing season.
“Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus has become a distinct landmark along the Interstate 25 corridor, an urban reference for the town of Castle Rock, and a very important contribution from Centura Adventist Health System to the life of Douglas County,” said Project Architect Aurelio Posada, AIA.
