UW Health: Eastpark Medical Center
Background
UW Health's new Eastpark Medical Center in Madison, Wisconsin, is a 7-story, 469,000-square-foot ambulatory building offering diverse medical services including radiation, oncology, women’s specialized care, diagnostic imaging, cardiology, dermatology, urology, pulmonary, and audiology. It features Wisconsin's largest solar carport, native landscaping, electric vehicle charging stations, and green cleaning practices. The solar carport is estimated to reduce Eastpark Medical Center’s energy use by 44.3 KBTU/year, which is expected to result in 30% energy savings based on ASHRAE 90.1 design standards. This contributes to UW Health's broader goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and portfolio-wide energy intensity by 50% and 34% respectively.
Solutions
The medical center’s solar carport located on the 7th floor is expected to generate 1,260 megawatt-hours of electricity annually. The parking garage design aims to address accessibility and occupant comfort concerns with features like primary parking for staff and patients in a covered garage that shield cars from the heat in the summer and cold and snow in the winter. The garage will also provide ample electric charging stations on every floor. The City of Madison also has a public bus stop accessible to the Eastpark Medical Center and UW Health encourages the use of public transportation to staff by providing free bus passes.
UW Health also implemented demand-limiting sequences with the HVAC and lighting systems at Eastpark Medical Center. The system is set up to track anticipated peak events using historical building data; as a peak even nears, the system initiates the reduction strategy through an automated sequence. As a medical center, it is important that demand reduction does not impact patient care and the selected sequences are designed to achieve this goal.
UW Health is actively working to address chemicals of concern and is looking for opportunities to safely manage, eliminate, or find alternatives to protect the health of patients, staff, and the environment. Green cleaning and strategies to reduce harmful chemicals will be used throughout the Eastpark Medical Center.
Additional site improvements for the project include outdoor space with drought-tolerant and native landscaping. The design includes a walking path for patients and staff that connects to the walking path at UW Health at the East Madison Hospital (formerly The American Center), located across the street. The outdoor seating areas are designed to allow for respite and connection to nature and promote health and healing. Landscaping will be pesticide and herbicide-free.
Other Benefits
UW Health is on track to achieve LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council using v4.1, LEED’s most stringent certification. In addition UW Health intends to achieve Energy Star Certification for Eastpark Medical Center. The center's energy use will be monitored after construction and is expected to receive its Energy Star certification within 12 months of completion.
The project’s architects have adopted the AIA’s Committee on the Environment (COTE®) Framework for Design Excellence toolkit, aiming for a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment.
UW Health is also planning a new clinic with an attached parking ramp, where many of the strategies used in Eastpark, including the solar canopy, will be implemented.
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