By Healthcare Facilities Today

The 100-bed Methodist Olive Branch Hospital in Olive Branch, Miss., is one of only a handful of hospitals nationwide to feature a state-of-the art geothermal heat pump system, and to include photoelectric glass, which automatically adjusts its tint based on sunlight levels.

A "Zooming In" blog on the Gresham Smith & Partners website looks at the geothermal HVAC system and the specialized glass and lighting system in detail.

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare challenged the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) team of GS&P, Smith Seckman Reid and Turner Construction to create an innovative hospital that reflects the organization's commitment to sustainability. The team selected a ground source heat pump system supported by an on-site geothermal bore field. MOBH is among the first in the country to use such a system.

To provide patients a level of control over their room’s temperature, each patient room has its own water source heat pump, stored in a shared closet with specially-designed doors to minimize noise.To provide patients a level of control over their room’s temperature, each patient room has its own water source heat pump, stored in a shared closet with specially-designed doors to minimize noise.

As the team continued to seek out green design innovations, it discovered a local manufacturer had just begun producing photoelectric glass, and MOBH is a pilot showcase for the product. The two-story lobby is glazed with dynamic, photoelectric glass, which changes from clear to opaque based on the amount of sunlight hitting light sensors mounted on the lobby roof. 

Read the blog.