Choosing the Right Materials for a Patient Care Facility

Considered one of the state’s most comprehensive healthcare networks, the Missouri University Health Care System (MUHC) recently expanded its services of University Hospital in Columbia, MO, with the grand opening of a new $190 million patient care tower designed to enhance the outcomes of the thousands of cancer patients treated annually at the facility.

Containing 90 private rooms with smart technology, six operating rooms, a 7,000-square-foot inpatient pharmacy with robotics automatically dispensing medication, and a 100,000-square-foot cancer center, the new eight-story addition was specifically developed to blend the latest healthcare delivery methods with relaxation and environmentalism.

Improved Durability and Comfort

This included the addition of the Ellis Fischel Gala and Brown Family Healing Garden featuring a waterfall, outdoor seating, and greenery as well as the use of low VOC-emitting finish materials, high-efficiency glass, 10,000 square feet of green roofs, and a rain screen exterior wall system with the goal of achieving LEED Silver Certification.

“The material is practically indestructible, and so far the Tufftec lockers have been everything we expected,” said Matt Hackbarth of HOK, the global firm responsible for the design, architecture, engineering, and planning of the University Hospital patient care tower. “They don’t show marks easily and fit very well with the overall aesthetics. The building’s only been open for a few months, but the initial impressions have been outstanding. Everyone has been particularly impressed with their usability and durability. They both look and work great.”

“The existing hospital was undersized and incapable of meeting the region’s growing medical needs,” said Doug Miller of S.M. Wilson & Co, a construction management, general contracting, and design/build firm headquartered in St. Louis.  “The new patient tower is part of a three-phase program to completely replace the hospital on the same site and accommodate every patient wellness need with the highest levels of expertise and comfort.”

Sustainable and Safe Materials

Among these amenities was the specification of nearly 700 Tufftec Lockers from Scranton Products for use throughout the facility, including 10 separate locker rooms. Chosen for their longevity and recycled content, the lockers sporting the Sandcastle speckled color were installed in several configurations to support the varying needs of users ranging from physicians and nurses to patients, friends, and family visiting the tower’s rehabilitation center or numerous other public areas.

“Plus Tufftec’s recycled content made them the ideal choice for the tower’s eco-friendly design and mission to capture LEED Certification status,” added Hackbarth, who had previously specified Scranton Products lockers and restroom partitions for other projects. “I’ve had excellent experiences with Scranton Products in the past and had no doubts about their reliability and longevity this time around. The Tufftec lockers met our criteria on virtually every level.”

Engineered for strength and durability, Tufftec’s HDPE material withstands the harshest daily use while remaining virtually maintenance-free.

The lockers are also impact, dent, and graffiti resistant as well as impervious to moisture.  With 25% to 100% post-consumer recycled content, Tufftec’s HDPE is naturally resistant to bacteria, mold, and mildew. In addition, they’re Children & Schools GREENGUARD Certified for indoor air quality, 100% recyclable, and contribute to LEED points. The lockers are designed to endure the wear and tear of athletic and recreational environments.