First Building Registered for LEED Certification on a Healthcare Campus in Northeast Florida

Jacksonville, FL – September 8, 2009 - Gresham, Smith and Partners, a leading national architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firm, announces the Brooks Health System Corporate Headquarters building for which the firm provided design services is complete.  The 47,000-square-foot, four-floor facility serves as the corporate headquarters for the Brooks Health System's 143-bed Rehabilitation Hospital and its 25 outpatient clinics which are located from Southeast Georgia throughout Florida.  The facility was the first building in Jacksonville located on a healthcare campus to register under the USGBC's LEED rating system and upon completion, LEED Silver certification is now pending.

"We are excited to move our administrative employees in to a central location adjacent to the hospital.  Not only will our administrative staff be able to work more efficiently, the new facility frees up necessary space within the hospital to expand our patient care operations," said Doug Baer, president and CEO of Brooks.  "GS&P worked in partnership with our staff and other members of the design team to ensure that our facility accurately reflects the needs of our staff, patients and community with a focus on being good stewards of our resources."

In addition to office space, the facility features a new main visitor entry that showcases Brooks and its community involvement, a large, state-of-the-art education and training center for hospital employees and community events.  The design includes 4,000-square-feet of shelled space to allow flexibility for future expansion as necessary.

GS&P's Architectural and Interior Design team met regularly with McVeigh & Mangum Engineering, Fickling Construction, Abbey Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers Group and Brooks Rehabilitation staff to ensure the goal of becoming LEED certified was being met through design.  Green features of the new building include:
• Recycling of more than 360 tons (70 percent of construction waste) of material including concrete, metal and drywall during the construction of the building
• Installation of low-flow plumbing fixtures in the building to reduce water consumption by 40 percent.  Electronic faucets automatically turn off when not in use and toilets automatically flush to greatly reduce water use
• Low energy lighting products and occupancy sensors; High efficiency window systems
• The carpet, paint, composite wood, adhesives and sealants are all registered as low emitting volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Twenty-five percent of material used throughout the building is recycled, including carpeting, glass, steel, ceiling panels, cabinets, countertops and the terrazzo floor in the main lobby
• More than twenty percent of materials in the building were extracted and manufactured in Northeast, Florida
• Implementation of a recycling program throughout the building for plastic, aluminum and paper products
• Parking priority is given to those who car pool or have low emissions vehicles.  A bike rack and changing area is available for people who bike to the Brooks campus

"Through our design, we aimed to create a building that would appropriately address the needs of the administrative staff while aesthetically capturing Brooks' vision and commitment to state-of-the-art quality care," stated David Christine, AIA, LEED AP, principal, Gresham, Smith and Partners.  "We are delighted to have been involved in this project for Brooks Health System and applaud their efforts on becoming what is anticipated to be the first LEED certified building in Northeast Florida on a healthcare campus."

In addition to design services for the corporate headquarters facility, GS&P provided design services for the 24,000-square-foot addition and renovation of Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Jacksonville which will increase the number of  private patient rooms and add hospital staff offices and therapy gym  space on the second, third and fourth floors.

The firm is currently designing Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, a replacement hospital in Americus, Georgia and was recently awarded a contract to design a 55,000-square-foot renovation for the Women's Center at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale.  GS&P-designed Nemours Home Office in Jacksonville was recently recognized for design excellence by the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.  The 110,000-square-foot facility is a modern functional space that promotes productivity in staff and provides a building and campus that reflects Nemours' image and mission. 
 
About GS&P:
Gresham, Smith and Partners provides solutions for the built environment to national and international clients.  For more than 40 years, GS&P has focused on developing solutions that result in client success with the goal of enhancing the quality of life and sustainability of communities.  GS&P employs talented, industry-leading professionals in disciplines ranging from traditional architecture and engineering design to scientists and highly specialized planning and strategic consulting services serving a variety of markets including Aviation, Corporate and Urban Design, Environmental Compliance, Healthcare, Industrial, Land Planning, Transportation and Water Services.  GS&P consistently ranks among the top architectural and engineering firms in the United States.  For more information regarding GS&P, visit www.gspnet.com.