RMH has selected the architectural firm of Earl Swensson Associates, Inc. (ESa) to develop the design for the new hospital and health campus.


ESa, which is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, was selected from a field of eight firms that was then narrowed down to two strong contenders, according to Hospital President T. Carter Melton, Jr. Teams comprised of physicians and hospital representatives toured several hospitals recently designed by the two final candidates as well as the headquarters of the two firms.


“The final decision was difficult because we started with the eight best healthcare facility design firms in America,” Melton said. “We selected ESa because their designs reflect the landscape and character of the communities in which their hospitals are located. They are nationally recognized for their progressive and innovative approaches to design, bringing together the best of the human and technological dimensions of healthcare.”


ESa provides design services in architecture, interior architecture, master planning and space planning. Since its founding in 1961, the company has designed over 8,000 projects throughout the U.S. and abroad.
The project team will be led by Richard L. Miller, FAIA, president-principal-in-charge/planning, design; and Harold D. Petty, AIA, director of medical design-principal/planning, design.


Miller has 37 years experience in healthcare facility planning and design. He also co-authored the book “New Directions in Hospital and Healthcare Facility Design,” which was published in 1995. It was re-released in 2002 as “Hospital and Healthcare Facility Design.”


Petty has 32 years of experience in healthcare facility planning and design.


The design process for the new hospital and health campus will take approximately 18 months. Construction should begin in 2007 and be completed in 2009-2010.

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