POOLING
Hospitals have a significant impact on climate change - five percent of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide are produced by healthcare systems In addition, many people find healthcare buildings to be uncomfortable, institutional spaces only to be entered in the case of an emergency. Even healthcare providers find their working environments challenging, and there are record levels of provider burnout and turnover that result in high financial consequences and low patient satisfaction and safety.
‘Pooling’ integrates water collection, filtration, and testing into the health landscape to improve well-being for providers, staff, patients, community members, and the ecosystem. Stormwater passes through a biofiltration pond with native plants and animals that naturally filter the water and allow sedimentation to occur. Then, the water flows through the main hospital courtyard, providing therapeutic benefits and a cooling effect to the users of the space. Finally, the natural swimming pool serves as the main gathering area for both water and the community, as a nearby community center encourages use of the space for recreation, exercise, and community events. The main public spaces, like the public plaza, hospital courtyard, and natural swimming pool follow the flow of the water through the site, highlighting its importance in maintaining crucial
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ecosystem services for the area. Most of the clinical spaces are lifted off of the ground floor to minimize the disruption of the site and allow passive ventilation strategies through this clustered public space. Tempering these areas with operable windows and the solar roof also reduces the need for mechanical cooling during the warm, humid summers and results in lower energy consumption and higher cost savings.
A sustainable hospital like ‘Pooling’ will lead by example and hold healthcare systems accountable for their role in meeting the 2030 challenge. It will also serve the fastest growing county in the Charlotte metro area and improve public health metrics. Lancaster county has low rates of routine medical visits and the population struggles with obesity, heart disease, and mental health, but an easily accessible, exciting, community-focused health campus will lower apprehension surrounding medical services and increase community participation. An important part of ‘Pooling’ is the amenities for providers and staff like private outdoor spaces, daylighting, and views that indirectly improve delivery of care. Finally, ‘Pooling’ aims to support the local ecosystem as well through the creation of new aquatic habitats for the Carolina Heelsplitter, an endangered mussel found on site that serves as an indicator species for water quality.
