In designing the Camino Medical Group’s Mountain View Campus for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in California, Hawley, Peterson & Snyder sought to create a facility that would be functionally advanced, yet soothing for the patients. In the end, these goals were met with the help of slate ledger panels, which define the exterior of the award-winning project.

“We work with our Healthcare clients to create places where the well-being and comfort of both patients and staff are always thoughtfully and carefully advanced,” reads a statement by Hawley, Peterson & Snyder. “These are people-intensive projects in which efficiency and technological support are critical.”

The new 250,000-square-foot Mountain View facility includes offices and exam rooms for primary care physicians and specialty physicians as well as an Urgent Care Center, Outpatient Surgery Center, Pharmacy, Laboratory and Diagnostic Radiology Services. Hawley, Peterson & Snyder’s services included masterplanning, architecture and interior design.

The exterior of the facility features curved walls and abundant landscaping that intends to evoke a sense of healing. The feature walls are clad with slate ledger panels from American Slate Co. of Walnut Creek, CA. The material specified was Maple Grove slate (formerly called Amber Gold slate), and the design called for approximately 2,700 square feet of material to be used. The stone was installed by Pete Wismann Masonry, Inc. of Mountain View, and the general contractor was DPR Construction Inc.’s San Jose, CA, office.

According to DPR Construction, the duration of the project was 25 months. “The more than two-year project, which started construction in late February 2005, [was] delivered using lean construction techniques designed to maximize overall production value and reduce waste while maintaining the highest quality,” reads a design statement from the company. DPR also pointed out that the new facility was built on the site of an abandoned Emporium department store, and more than 90% of the demolished building was recycled. For example, DPR reused all of the concrete from the demolished building, which saved approximately $450,000 in transportation, material and landfill fee costs.

After its completion, the Camino Medical Group’s Mountain View Campus received an Integrated Practice Honor Award from the San Francisco Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. “The Camino Medical Group Mountain View Campus project represents the benefits of teamwork, virtual modeling and implementation of a new project delivery method based on collaboration and commitment,” stated the jury. “The integrated design and construction team used a 3D/4D building model to create a 250,000-square-foot campus designed to be a place where ‘healing begins at the front door.’ Outstanding teamwork has made this a model project.”