The nearby Ohio River was used as a pattern and organizing element for the flowing design of the Owensboro (Ky.) Health Regional Hospital, which Design Awards judge James Bicak described as an “iconic experience.”
The 145-acre undeveloped site had its challenges. Its industrial neighbors—including a bottling plant, grain elevator and oil pipeline storage facility—did not offer a healing environment. So instead of highlighting the external views, architects designed a series of roof gardens and internal courtyards, planted 1,000 trees and created enough bird and butterfly habitat to become the first hospital to qualify for the Audubon International Signature Program.
Judges gave the project an Honorable Mention in Modern Healthcare's Design Awards.