In support of a number of needs in providing healthcare to the north-central region of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Bell Memorial Hospital initiated an investigation considering replacement of the Health System's 100 year-old Main Hospital campus.

Bell Memorial Hospital has identified a parcel of approximately 35 acres, just north of Ishpeming with direct access to highway 41 for development of the New Hospital Campus. The site is perched atop Jasper Ridge, a heavily forested area with major views in each direction. Acquisition of this site will enable the Health System to develop a major medical campus, integrating all inpatient, ambulatory care and physician office functions on one site with easy access, in essence providing a one-stop shopping service for the healthcare needs of the region.

Hobbs+Black has been commissioned to provide strategic planning, programming and design services for the New Bell Memorial Hospital Campus. Through a series of strategic planning sessions with Hospital Administration, Management and the development team, determination was made for the products and services needed to support the Hospital’s base. Based on existing and anticipated patient volumes and demographics, the outline provided a format to begin programming with administration and management. The program identified the need to provide inpatient and ambulatory care services in a facility containing approximately, 96.000 square feet. An additional 36,000 square feet is proposed to support outpatient clinic and physician offices.

Given the size of footprint and the needs for simple adjacencies, services and patient way finding, a one-story footprint has been established as the basis for the new Hospital.

All Hospital departments, clinical services and physician practices are located along a central avenue within the building, providing patient access through an almost retail setting with open waiting areas, and departments fronting on the central spine. The major avenue is sky lit, making for a high level of day lighting in the center of the Hospital.