A sculptural, curved building form greets visitors to the Mount Sinai Medical Center, Skolnick Surgical Tower and Hildebrandt Emergency Center in Miami Beach, Fla. This defining architectural element of the 343,000-square-foot, $152 million project was inspired by the location’s art deco heritage as well as goals for resiliency, with the concrete exterior shielding the building from excessive heat, glare, and rain.
The project, submitted to the Design Showcase by CannonDesign (St. Louis) and completed in January 2019, was built to be a fortress capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds, 100-year flood levels, and extended power outages. Defining elements of the project’s resiliency response include the hospital constructed 10 feet above sea level, as opposed to the required 7 feet; all critical MEP systems elevated and reinforced to ensure continued operation as a mission critical facility; and housing of the city’s emergency command center. Meanwhile, interiors deliver a serene aesthetic with a palette of sea-inspired blues and greens and light-filled spaces offering lots of coastal views.
