Ascension Health

To make healthcare more accessible for and to keep up with the growing demand for outpatient services, Borgess Health, part of the Ascension Health network, added a new state-of-the-art ambulatory and outpatient care center in Battle Creek, Michigan. The new 65,000-square-foot facility offers primary and specialty care through a range of services including medical imaging and radiology, physical therapy, sleep health, women’s health, cardiology, and physical and occupational therapy. The center also features a diagnostic laboratory space and a pharmacy. Situated on 21 acres, the structure was designed for future expansion to accommodate space for bariatric, vascular, and surgery. TowerPinkster provided engineering services for the project and worked with Design Architect, NBBJ, to create a highly sustainable, energy-efficient building as a new model for 21st-century ambulatory facilities. The facility was designed to use 30% less energy than similar medical buildings using features like a highly efficient thermal envelope, low-temperature condensing boilers, heat-recovery chillers, occupancy sensors, recycled content, and locally-sourced materials. As the first all-LED facility of any kind in the state, LED lighting also contributed significantly to the building’s energy efficiency.