The Challenge:
Baptist Health South Florida wanted the design of its new Miami Cancer Institute to reflect the warm Mediterranean style of the other health care facilities it operates throughout the region. “The client wanted to create a friendly, hospitality-type feel such as you would find in a fine spa or hotel,” says ZGF Architects principal Barbara Kubasti.
Inspired by the connections to nature found in the surrounding landscape, the design team selected natural materials for the interior of the 350,000 s.f. cancer treatment center, creating a comforting environment for patients and their families.
The Solution:
Reinforcing the connection to nature, the lobbies and corridors are infused with natural light and feature WOODWORKS Linear Veneered ceiling panels in a CONSTANTS Cherry finish. The custom 2-foot-by-5-foot wood panels were designed specifically for the cancer institute by the You Inspire™ Solutions Center at Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions. Each of the panels is made up of three different widths of wood planks with a narrow reveal between each plank, creating a unique linear visual that aligns directionally with the corridors. “We wanted the warm feel of wood and because the wood ceilings are linear in fashion, they accommodate the continuance of those long corridors that form the north-south internal circulation spine of the building,” explains Kubasti.
The panels are designed with custom hooks and safety cables that attach to the suspension system to provide safe and easy access to the plenum and to prevent the panels from accidentally dislodging or falling. Backed with factory-attached acoustical fleece and bioacoustics infill, the panels have a Noise Reduction Coefficient of 0.75, helping to control noise in the areas where they are installed. Before installing the ceiling, Acousti Engineering Company of Florida installed additional 2-foot cross tees to ensure that the suspension system would be able to support the weight of the large, heavy wood panels.
The WoodWorks Linear Veneered ceiling panels provide patients and their families with a quieting connection to nature that helps in the healing process while also serving as a wayfinding tool that helps with navigation around the building.
Project: Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida
Location: Miami, FL
Architect: ZGF Architects
Products: WOODWORKS Linear Veneered Ceiling Panels