CASE STUDY
Essentia Health
At Garden on the Wall®, we understand the vital role that biophilic design applied with our preserved gardens and planter applications can play in creating restorative environments that promote healing, reduce stress, and provide comfort to patients, visitors, and staff alike.
location
Duluth, MN
Client
St. Mary’s Medical Center
Year
2023
Architectural Firm
Ewing Cole
Garden on the Wall® installations at healthcare facilities are always extra special to us as the mission takes on an additional meaning and importance. While all occupants deserve mindful, human-centric interiors designed to achieve certain essential emotional and psychological metrics, from sanctuaries to Wow! Spaces, the patients, visitors, and staff of healthcare institutions deserve a carefully designed space that soothes, heals, enlightens, inspires, and lends a sense of hope and caring. And so with the re-design of the Essentia Health at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, MN, the interior design team at Ewing Cole and GOTW worked hand-in-hand to create something truly special.
The hospital overall consists of 815,000 SF of new construction and 115,000 SF of renovated space of existing facilities. With an exterior design that mimics the neighborhood brownstone structures on the lower levels, and literally mirroring Lake Superior through the glass façade of the upper levels, the facility pays homage to its surrounds.
But the interior design goes much further in making the connection with the outdoor world, while also celebrating Duluth’s people, history, and natural splendor. That’s where we came in!
Those first few steps…
It all started with a vision and a consultation in 2019 when the Ewing Cole team was considering a Garden on the Wall® plant art installation to form the finishing touch on their majestic and awe-inspiring grand lobby design. Envisioning an impactful and beautiful biophilic anchor to the space in this prominent location, they reached out to us to begin the collaboration. Needless to say, we rose to the challenge!
Checking all the boxes
The Ewing Cole team was no strangers to GOTW, as we’d collaborated on numerous projects before, and they were well aware of our proven track record of successfully completed garden installations in the healthcare segment. They knew that we have the right experience and expertise in all the extra requirements that go into healthcare facilities, particularly Class A Flame Spread Test ratings per ASTM E84 – something no other preserved garden supplier can claim. Being a healthcare institution, it was extremely important to have sustainability credentials to ensure that the Essentia facility would meet the highest standards for material health and ‘green’ provenance from source to substrate. Ewing Cole knew they could rest assured that with GOTW, they had the right partner with the most 3rd party sustainability credentials of any garden supplier. The use of sustainable materials is vital in healthcare facilities as occupant health must not be compromised by materials of uncertain origin or composition. We aim to tread lightly down the garden path in everything that we do, for the greater good.
The design is where we shine!
Once the project was officially released for the scope by the General Contractor, we reconnected with the EwingCole team to generate the design. It was time to get creative! The EwingCole design team was drawn to the organic layouts and organic plant transitions showcased in some of our earlier projects. Since they were planning to do a lot of stunning millwork and incorporate soaring wood strakes across curvilinear shapes, they came to the conclusion that integrating biophilic elements on a grand scale would complete the all-natural ambience, while also invoking the beautiful forests the region is known for. Going a step further, the concept was augmented with a plan for the representation of the local Apostle Islands archipelago in the garden itself, using varies species in contrasting textures and natural colors, forming a truly magical organic plant transition. Overall, our garden was to play a pivotal role in the interior design’s tribute to the landscape surrounding Duluth. We achieved this through native plants specially curated for this garden. The result was something amazing.
What we thought about it…
We were truly thrilled to have played a pivotal role in this project, contributing our expertise in biophilic design. Our biophilic installation, which reaches an impressive height of 33 feet, graces the grand lobby beneath the striking wooden strakes and soaring ceiling. It serves as a tranquil and rejuvenating 'green' welcome for patients, visitors, and staff alike! The installation not only mimic the vistas of Duluth’s hillsides outside the windows, and providing an accompaniment to the breathtaking views of Lake Superior, but also embodies the healing power of nature, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience of the medical center. We are proud to have been part of this transformational project and look forward to continuing our commitment to innovative and impactful design in healthcare!
What others thought about it…
When it was all said and done, we can proudly say that with this project, we contributed to a win in the 2023 International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Healthcare Design Awards honoring excellence and originality in healthcare interior design across numerous categories. Taking home a Best of Competition Award in the Hospitals & Community category made an impactful impression in the re-design of the Essentia Health at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, MN. We were thrilled with this win for EwingCole. The design of the grand lobby space is stunning, and with our biophilic installation reaching 33’ feet high beneath the attractive wooden strakes under the soaring ceiling, the impression given to visitors is inspiring and uplifting. Created with forest, ferns, and eucalyptus over a moss canvas, our large-scale, all-natural biophilic installation is ideally placed to welcome and embrace. In the dramatic, modern lobby space, it will serve as a calming and restorative ‘green’ welcome to patients, visitors, and staff, as our gardens do so well in healthcare facilities. With this tapestry of all-natural greenery, the garden provides a beautiful accompaniment to the breathtaking views of Lake Superior.
Why Preserved Gardens & Planters @ Healthcare are so important?
Preserved gardens and preserved planters in healthcare facilities are essential for creating restorative environments that promote healing, reduce stress, and provide comfort to patients, visitors, and staff. These natural havens, especially the ones meticulously crafted by Garden on the Wall®, offer a welcome respite from the often-stressful hospital setting. The benefits of biophilic design in healthcare are well-documented, with studies showing improved patient recovery times, reduced anxiety, and increased overall well-being. By incorporating preserved gardens and planters, healthcare facilities can create soothing, inspiring spaces that support the physical and emotional needs of all occupants. Furthermore, initiatives like Garden on the Wall®'s Re-Leaf program where previously loved gardens are repurposed for donations to healthcare employees' respite rooms, demonstrate a commitment to circular economy, sustainability, and social responsibility, ensuring that the restorative power of nature is accessible to those who need it most.