Surgical Tower Going Green and Staying Local
The Largest “Green” Healthcare Construction Project in the Northeast
The new Surgical Tower extends St. Joseph’s green footprint beyond the Emergency Services Building. The first thing visitors will notice is the daylight streaming in from windows throughout the floors. High efficiency is the name of the game from lighting to motors to windows and a reduction in the water usage. The building materials and finishes include recycled content and there are low or no volatile organic compounds in the paints, carpets and finishes. A storm water retention system is in place and the entire building will be powered by “green” energy.
Welcoming and Comfortable Spaces for Families and Visitors
The new surgical tower features a brand new 4,000-square-foot surgical waiting room, with seating for approximately 135. Chairs, tables and a vending area help make this a comfortable space for families to wait while their loved ones are in surgery. Tall windows add natural light, as well.
The hallway leading to the new waiting room is being called “Main Street” Corridor, after the large-scale mural that adorns the wall. Michael Barletta, local artist, photographer and designer, transports visitors up the road to Syracuse’s North Salina Street, depicting some of the architecture and historic buildings in “Little Italy.”
The hallway also features benches and tables produced by local artisans employed by Salt Works of Syracuse, N.Y. Faculty and students from the College of Visual and Preforming Arts at Syracuse University designed these beautiful pieces. All materials used were sourced from, built in and contribute to a sustainable future of the Syracuse community.
Each piece is hand-crafted out of lumber salvaged from the city of Syracuse’s once-industrial Near Westside warehouses. At the time these historic structures were renovated as part of an urban revitalization campaign, several tons of old-growth timber beams were reclaimed, de-nailed, milled and transformed.
Salt Works is a partnership between the Near Westside Initiative, Syracuse University, the Northside Urban Partnership and Syracuse Habitat for Humanity.
Project Designed and Built Using Local Contractors
St. Joseph’s is financing the expansion project, which includes the recently completed Emergency Services Building, in several ways. The Central New York Regional Economic Development Council identified the Phase 2B expansion as a priority project and in 2011, St. Joseph’s was awarded $2.5 million in Regional Economic Development Council funding.
St. Joseph’s also has received an inducement of $177 million for tax exempt bonding from the Onondaga Civic Development Corporation, a local development corporation recently formed by Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney. The Corporation has the authority to assist not-for-profit organizations that undertake economic development projects by the Onondaga County Legislature. The remainder of the investment will come from hospital reserves, as well as St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation’s Generations capital campaign. The tower itself cost $63 million, and was completed on time, on budget.
King and King Architects designed the new surgical tower; construction manager is The Hayner Hoyt Corporation.