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WPH's new MOB water thrifty
By Anthony McConnell
This document was published online on Thursday, May 01, 2008
Water has always been a valuable resource for people in the Big Horn Basin.
That's why West Park Hospital's new three-story, 62,000-square foot medical office building on Yellowstone Avenue will incorporate several water-saving methods.
“We took special consideration for the preciousness of water in the area,” architect Stephanie Pielich of Johnson, Johnson and Crabtree Architects told the Planning and Zoning Board on April 22.
P&Z approved landscape, architectural and outdoor lighting for the MOB, which will be between the AmericInn Lodge and Lee Plumbing. It will replace the Coe Medical Center.
The water system will incorporate a 10,000-gallon cistern to capture rain, snow and water from sinks in the building. The water will be treated and used for irrigation.
In addition to the cistern, only native drought-resistant plants will be incorporated into the landscape. They will be planted in “bioswales” in the parking lot which will gather rain and snow runoff to irrigate plants and minimize water usage, Pielich said.
“The landscaping promises to set a new standard in the community,” city planner Kathy Spencer said.
She added that she is only aware of one other building (the Cody Medical Arts Complex west of 8th Street) in that has incorporated bioswales into its landscaping.
The new cemetery on West Cooper Lane also will incorporate a similar method, which will utilize water from the city's sewer treatment plant for irrigation, Spencer said.
The exterior of the building will be a combination of khaki and sage green fiber cement board siding, an environmentally friendly, low-maintenance wood substitute comprised of cement, sand and cellulose.
The building also will feature shed-style and gable roofs, which will mask the mostly flat roof and heating and cooling equipment, Pielich said.
“Most of the roof is flat, though you'll never know because of the roof lines,” she added. “The exterior really follows the Western environment.”
The main entrance of the MOB will have a canopy to shield patients from the weather.
The first floor of the building will house the Urgent Care Center, coffee bar and at least two medical offices. The second and third floors also will be used as medical office space.
The Coe Medical Center will eventually be demolished to make way for future WPH expansion.
“We expect to break ground May 22,” hospital CEO Doug McMillan said.
The building should be ready for occupancy by April 2009.
Total cost of the project is about $14 million. WPH has contracted with Lancaster Pollard, which will issue notes to provide funding for the project.
“It's going to be all funded by loans,” CFO Pat McConnell said. “Lancaster Pollard will sell notes and give the proceeds to the hospital.”
He added that the recent turmoil in the lending market will not affect WPH's ability to borrow money for the project.
“There's still a good market for these types of projects,” McConnell said.
Brasfield & Gorie, which has offices across the nation, is the contractor on the project.
“They are one of the top-rated health care contractors in the U.S.,” McMillan said. “Brasfield & Gorie provided the most competitive bid - with the most aggressive schedule - in completing the project in 11 months.”
Other bidders on the project were Robbins & Morton, also a national firm, and Groathouse Construction of Cody.
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