Award of HONOR
Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center Expansion
Architect: Architects Alaska with HOK Category: Renovations
This three-story, 108,000 SF, Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center expansion serves the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) in Fairbanks, Alaska. TCC wanted to expand its existing facility to offer additional services to the interior villages, such as an Ambulatory Surgery Center and cancer care, and provide more space for specialty clinics, laboratory services, and diagnostic imaging. Stepping into new areas of service required TCC to lean on the technical expertise of the design team to plan spaces around the best workflow for staff and patients. The resulting building is tailor-made to match TCC’s specific needs.
Just as important, the design had to honor the culture of TCC’s people. The existing building’s exterior form and materials reference culturally important features like rivers, fish, and forests; part of our mission was to enhance and extend the beauty of the existing clinic with the addition. The new building continues the spirit of the original with a low, horizontally oriented form that echoes its exterior finishes and appearance.
A “Heritage Hall” provides space for curated exhibits, signage, and wall graphics referencing native medicinal plants woven through the facility.
Gallery
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Jury Comments
“I think the massing of this project was incredibly successful. The addition creates other landscape programs, such as the healing garden, which does a great job of connecting to people and places with its biophilic qualities and unique design.”
“The way they executed the addition from the original building is well done, using a modeled, colorful, playful skin on the exterior to address scale and form gardens, establishing relationships to the exterior. The openings to the interior are generous and warm, creating a welcoming experience as you approach the building. The addition ties well with the existing medical facility, and the building forms and orientation reinforce cultural values and familiarity for users.”
“The interior functionality responds to the form generation articulated on the exterior, and the use of light creates intimate spaces. The design celebrates historical elements communicated through the educational component. Overall, the exterior skin ties everything together beautifully, as seen in the elevations.”
“The project is well conceived and executed.”
