Restful in Charleston
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has begun a $190-million, 20-year master plan to rebuild its entire campus along the coast of historic downtown Charleston. The current 1940s campus will be replaced with five new, all-inclusive specialty buildings. The new campus, which will be called the Center for Advanced Medicine, is the first free-standing health care facility in the country to be constructed in accordance with the International Building Code in both hurricane and seismic zones.

NBBJ New York designed a modern, high-tech facility that also aligns with Charleston’s historic-focused, conservative building codes set by the Charleston Board of Architectural Review. The firm’s Timothy Johnson led the project, moving to Charleston to ensure the building’s construction would reflect the community’s rich historic and maritime flavor.

The project’s first phase is the Ashley River Towers, which includes a four-story diagnostic and treatment building, seven-story patient tower and a large garden atrium that connects the two structures. The 641,000-square-foot, 156-private-room facility was completed in October 2007.

The structure has 25 different types of glass on the outside, most of it clear, low-E hurricane resistant. All different types of wall systems are used through—different curtainwall constructions, aluminum windows, shadow boxes and spandrels. 

There is a variety of fritted and transparent glass on the interior. The main lobby, referred to as the conservatory because of its replication of Charleston’s gardens, is open for four floors with a projected area on the second floor that features a glass railing. This allows access to the facilities on the second floor.

The Ashley River Towers were fashioned to create a stress-free experience for patients while receiving technologically advanced medical care. Its design resembles a luxury hotel with a tree-filled conservatory entrance. The nearly all-glass facility also provides patients and staff with exceptional access to natural light, which has been proven to reduce hospital stays, decrease depression, improve sleep, lower medication and improve overall morale of the patients and staff, according to The Center for Health Design. 

Architects' Guide to Glass & Metal
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