DETROIT GENERAL HOSPITAL    UNIVERSITY CLINICS BUILDING    DETROIT MEDICAL CENTER TUNNELS

DESCRIPTIVE DATA

Project No. 10:            Detroit General Hospital/University                                       Clinics/DMC Tunnels
Architecture Firm                                                                 of Record:                   William Kessler / Ziedler                                                         Roberts / Giffels Associates
Design Firm:               William Kessler and Associates                                             (Design Lead)
Role of Nominee:        Project Designer:DMC Tunnels,                                           Senior Designer: DGH/UCB

Detroit General Hospital:
The 340 Acute Care Bed, 4 story, 400,000 sf Teaching Hospital geared toward all emergency-trauma impatient care. The exterior skin of 5 ft. wide silver aluminum panels, punctuated at intervals for vision glazing, intersect their cruciform inpatient unit modules with a contrasting painted bright red-orange paneled forms housing the building services and exit stairways. The low-rise courtyard scheme of geometric/cruciform modules modified by specific program requirements wrap around 4 landscaped courtyards.  Along the entry level Public Concourse, quarter round yellow paneled vaults house retail functions while circular forms bring air to the mechanical air handling machines and garage lower levels.

University Clinics Building:
The 8 story, 500,000 sf Clinics Building, designed to serve 550,000 annual patient visits, has a geometric modular design that allows functional connectivity and natural light to the interior. The clinic modules enclose 3- 48 ft. square atrium courtyards whose art-filled sculptural space is the focus of their surrounding patient waiting areas. The atriums bring natural light to the public space and reduce the perception of the immense scale of the Clinic Building.

Detroit Medical Center Underground Tunnels:
The underground tunnel/concourse connects the hospital and clinic to the other medical facilities in the complex. This facilitates the movement of materials, patients, and staff without regard to weather conditions. Pyramidal shaped lightwells/periscopes bring light into the intersections of the underground passages and orient the pedestrians to the buildings the pedestrians are walking toward. The concourse is constructed of 15 ft. diameter precast concrete pipe with a steel and concrete decking for the walking surface. Below the walking surface is the utility access for piping, pneumatic system, and a Docutel material movement system connecting the medical facilities. The ceiling is brilliantly reflective striated aluminium painted five shades of blue. Lighting is directed upward to exploit the reflectivity of the curved aluminium surface.

DESIGN AWARDS:      

                1980 AIA National Honor Award
                1980 AIA State Honor Award
                1980 AIA Chapter Honor Award

PUBLICATIONS:      

                Architectural Record    April 1980                
                AIA Journal        Mid-May 1980