Designing Denver’s Future: A Conversation With Three HOK Designers

< back

Research

DHKC: A Story of Flexibility and Resilience

The design of the David H. Koch Center required flexibility to add new programming and resilience to respond to climate change.

1/6

When design began in early 2012, NYP knew that ambulatory care would occupy most of the first 11 stories. The top six floors would remain vacant shell space. This required the team to meticulously plan for the unknown with the understanding that future construction could not interrupt hospital operations.

2/6

A few months into design, Hurricane Sandy brought catastrophic flooding and power outages to New York City. NYP challenged the design team to create a hospital that could withstand new types of natural and human-caused emergencies.

A few months into design, Hurricane Sandy brought catastrophic flooding and power outages to New York City. NYP challenged the design team to create a hospital that could withstand new types of natural and human-caused emergencies.

3/6

Critical building systems essential to maintaining building operations are located on upper floors to protect them from flooding associated with climate change. Reinforced back-up systems offer additional resilience, ensuring the building can support four days of operations if the city grid goes down.

4/6

Elevating the mechanical systems created a buffer (seen here in the silver facade) that minimized noise during construction of the upper floors.

Elevating the mechanical systems created a buffer (seen here in the silver facade) that minimized noise during construction of the upper floors.

5/6

During construction, NYP committed the building’s top six floors to the Alexandra Cohen Women and Children’s Hospital and a portion of the third floor to the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program. HOK led the planning required to enable the fit-out of the shelled spaces without disrupting patients or building operations.

During construction, NYP committed the building’s top six floors to the Alexandra Cohen Women and Children’s Hospital and a portion of the third floor to the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program. HOK led the planning required to enable the fit-out of the shelled spaces without disrupting patients or building operations.

6/6

The design of the David H. Koch Center required flexibility to add new programming and resilience to respond to climate change.

1/6

When design began in early 2012, NYP knew that ambulatory care would occupy most of the first 11 stories. The top six floors would remain vacant shell space. This required the team to meticulously plan for the unknown with the understanding that future construction could not interrupt hospital operations.

2/6

A few months into design, Hurricane Sandy brought catastrophic flooding and power outages to New York City. NYP challenged the design team to create a hospital that could withstand new types of natural and human-caused emergencies.

A few months into design, Hurricane Sandy brought catastrophic flooding and power outages to New York City. NYP challenged the design team to create a hospital that could withstand new types of natural and human-caused emergencies.

3/6

Critical building systems essential to maintaining building operations are located on upper floors to protect them from flooding associated with climate change. Reinforced back-up systems offer additional resilience, ensuring the building can support four days of operations if the city grid goes down.

4/6

Elevating the mechanical systems created a buffer (seen here in the silver facade) that minimized noise during construction of the upper floors.

Elevating the mechanical systems created a buffer (seen here in the silver facade) that minimized noise during construction of the upper floors.

5/6

During construction, NYP committed the building’s top six floors to the Alexandra Cohen Women and Children’s Hospital and a portion of the third floor to the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program. HOK led the planning required to enable the fit-out of the shelled spaces without disrupting patients or building operations.

During construction, NYP committed the building’s top six floors to the Alexandra Cohen Women and Children’s Hospital and a portion of the third floor to the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program. HOK led the planning required to enable the fit-out of the shelled spaces without disrupting patients or building operations.

6/6

Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now