Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Wellness Center

Albany, GA
Construction Cost: $6.47 million
Area / Square Feet: 40,000
Occupancy Date: March 2006

Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital purchased an abandoned middle school across the street with the intent of creating a wellness center capable of inspiring hospital employees to pursue better personal health. In turn, the hospital expects to see its health-care costs reduced by as much as 13 percent.

The predominantly female staff of 4,000 faced weight and dietary issues. Thus, key interior elements include a two-court gym, group cycling and aerobics areas, a large fitness area featuring free weights and selectorized and cardiovascular equipment, a teaching kitchen and health-education classrooms, and a diagnostic area where participants can receive free health assessments. Circulation for the new recreation and wellness addition wraps the existing gym, utilizing this central volume as an organizing space for all building areas. A monumental stair leads to upper-level fitness areas overlooking an exterior running track and multipurpose field. Tile floors in the main entry and carpet with equipment pads give the facility a soft feel and the color scheme adds to the relaxed and festive approach.

The existing structure suggested a material palette of brick, cut stone and glass on the building?s exterior. The cut stone expands into entry porte cochere devices, which function as ?porch? elements shading interior reception areas. These porte cochere elements are arranged in a triple-arch configuration to recall the architecture of the historic school building and yet lend modern appeal to the new facility.