Healthcare Design - November 2020 - 56

NOVEMBER 2020

ABOVE: The project team
worked with the hospital's art committee to
identify locations within
the facility for largescale nature imagery
from local photographers. OPPOSITE: The
main lobby entrance
features references to
the island's history of
fine craftsmanship and
whaling, including an
inlaid compass rose
in the flooring and a
wood wall with a woven
look. PREVIOUS PAGES:
The hospital's outdoor
serenity garden features
seating areas, a winding pathway, and two
large bronze sculptures
created and donated by
artist Gordon Gund.

people go to the hospital and dine there. It's a very interesting component
in terms of its place in the community," Stroupe says. "A lot of other hospitals don't have that same type of relationship."
In fact, the project's $120 million capital campaign was met entirely
with private donations by residents so that no taxpayer dollars had to
be used. As a result, Stroupe says there was a lot of interest in making
sure that the new hospital was designed specifically for Nantucket.
"They wanted us to be sure to capture the essence of the island and its
culture," she says.
BUILDING CHARACTER

Input from the community wasn't the only guiding force on the project,
however. With the entire island designated as a historic district, the new
hospital design required the approval of Nantucket's elected architectural
review board, which weighed in on everything from building materials to
lighting to signage and more. "They are very particular about what goes on
and how it looks to maintain that Nantucket charm," says Brian McKenna,
health region leader at CannonDesign (Boston). "We were asked to apply
scale and measurements and proportions that are traditionally used for
houses to a healthcare institution."
For example, the same pitched roof standard for houses on the island
had to be applied to the two-story 110,000-square-foot hospital building.
Other iconic building elements, including weathered gray shingles with
white trim, were a must-have in the design vernacular of the hospital, as
well. "It's really a beautiful community because of that consistent character that it has, but at the same time, it's also a unique challenge applying
that character to a healthcare setting," Stroupe says.
The project team had to overcome another host of challenges specific
to the locale, as well. To begin, the new hospital was being built adjacent
to the existing facility that remained operational until the new building

HCDMAGAZINE.COM

CHRISTOPHER B ARRETT

Massachusetts General Hospital, Nantucket Cottage Hospital has
been serving residents and
tourists in Nantucket, Mass.,
since the 1910s. The organization's most recent facility
was built in 1957 and lacked
the amenities, robust technology network, and
resiliency features desired to meet the care and
patient expectations of today. "There had been
no medical facility of any kind built on the island in 60 years," says Jocelyn Stroupe, principal and director of health interiors at CannonDesign (Chicago). So in 2011, the hospital's
board gave approval to explore a replacement
hospital that would provide a modern healthcare setting while conforming to the island's
historic aesthetic.
To help guide this journey 30 miles out at sea,
a committee was formed that included residents and staff (many of whom are islanders
themselves) to work with CannonDesign, which
provided architecture and interior design services. Together, they toured a variety of buildings on Nantucket to understand the island's
historic architecture and building materials as
well as the community's relationship with the
hospital. "In the winter, when a lot of things are
closed, there are limited restaurants open, so
N AFFILIATE OF

http://www.HCDMAGAZINE.COM

Healthcare Design - November 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - November 2020