Patient needs come first when designing and constructing medical facilities. For the Eye Surgery Center of Knoxville, this attention to detail was essential. The practice worked with Alcoa-based general contractor Hickory Construction to develop a new contemporary facility that caters to the unique needs of each patient.
Located on Dannaher Drive in Powell, TN, the Eye Surgery Center was designed by UrbanARCH Architecture and completed in January 2018.
The exterior of the building features a modern design achieved via the use of mixed materials including standing seam metal, Trex siding, brick and Hardie panels.
The interior welcomes visitors with an open layout, as well as three surgical suites and a spacious recovery area with room for 10 patients.
One specific challenge Hickory faced during construction was the installation of the center’s Heating and Air Conditioning System. “Being that the doctors deal with eyes, getting the HVAC system right was crucial,” explains Chris Duncan, Vice President of Hickory’s Commercial Operations. Humidity is essential during surgery as it keeps eyes from drying out.
With an almost a 70% humidity rate, the surgical suites feature the levels doctors and patients need.
“Not only did the system need to have extra filtration, but it also required a higher humidity level than normal,” says Duncan. “We had to complete a significant amount of research to achieve ideal levels.”
Overall, the entire team behind the project delivered a cutting-edge facility that will serve patients for years to come.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with UrbanARCH and the Eye Surgery Center,” says Duncan.