Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island is one of the state's largest and most comprehensive providers of hospice and palliative care, and is the third oldest hospice in the country. In 2006, Home & Hospice purchased 1085 North Main St., with plans to consolidate their hospice facility, administrative offices, and education and bereavement center into one building. On May 31, a crowd of nearly 500 people celebrated the grand opening of Home & Hospice's new headquarters.
The renovation of the four-story, 50,000 s/f building is currently pursuing LEED Silver certification and is expected to be one of the first fully operational LEED certified health care facilities in the state. Sustainable design aligns with Home & Hospice's philosophy on the cycles of life and the cycles of nature. During design, Home & Hospice consulted with a cultural anthropologist on critical design issues.
The first, major sustainable design commitment Home & Hospice made was to convert an abandoned building, instead of building new. "Not only does reusing an existing facility significantly divert demolition and construction waste from landfills," said David Sluter, CEO of New England Construction, contractor for the renovation. "It enhances the neighborhood by converting a vacant building into a thriving healthcare facility that is open to community use."
Throughout construction, 92.6% of all construction waste was recycled. In addition, 95% of the existing wall, floor, and roof construction was reused. "When walking through the new Home & Hospice," said Diana Franchitto, president and CEO of Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island. "You would never believe that 95% of what you see existed here before. Everything looks brand new."
Other sustainable design features include a reflective roof to prevent heat absorption; low-flow water fixtures with motion sensors; high-performing and energy-efficient building mechanical and electrical systems; and low or no VOC-emitting carpets, paints, adhesives, and wood products. Home & Hospice has also committed to obtaining at least 35% of their electricity from renewable sources, and using only green cleaning methods and products to reduce chemicals in the environment.
Besides the project's sustainable design features, the goal of the project was to provide a facility in which Home & Hospice Care could fulfill their mission to provide compassionate, professional, state of the art physical, emotional and spiritual care for all people facing life-threatening illness. "Vision 3 Architects wrapped the entire design of the facility around this mission," said Keith Davignon, principal of Vision 3 Architects. "We listened closely to Home & Hospice's staff, and provided them with a comfortable and dignified environment for patients and their families."
"Our new home reflects thoughtful planning geared toward the needs of our patients, families and staff. Our goals included creating a sustainable hospice environment that offers patients and family members comfort, peace and plenty of space for reflection and quiet time," said Franchitto. "With the creativity and guidance of Vision 3 and New England Construction, we've achieved these goals and look forward to continuing our important role in the state's health care scheme."
About Vision 3 Architects:
Vision 3 Architects is a 30-person architectural and interior design firm located in Providence, RI that offers creative design solutions to corporate office, education, and hospitality clients. For more information about Vision 3 Architects, visit www.vision3architects.com.
About New England Construction:
Founded in 1985, New England Construction strives to create value for its' customers on every project. The company is a comprehensive Design-Build Firm offering cost effective solutions to Banks, Commercial Buildings, Automobile Dealerships, Corporate Offices, Retail Shops, Restaurants as well as Medical Facilities, and Churches throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. For more information about New England Construction, visit www.NEconstruction.com.
All photos are courtesy of Aaron Usher, www.aaronusher.com