NGHS Earns Gold Award in 2014 Landscape Architecture for Healthcare Communities Competition
Our friends at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainsville, Ga. have earned the Gold Award in the 2014 Landscape Architecture for Healthcare Communities Competition. Their story was featured in the October 2014 issue of Healthcare Design magazine. Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s therapeutic gardens were lauded for their textural variety and colorful activity year round. “For every season, if it’s bulbs, if it’s herbs, you’ve always got plantings. There’s really not a season that hasn’t been taken into consideration,” says Nancy Colston, president and chief development officer of the NGHS Medical Center Foundation.
The Landscape Architecture for Healthcare Communities Competition was open to healthcare administrators, facility executives and managers as well as architects, designers and others providing design services to the healthcare industry. A jury of experts appointed by Healthcare Design reviewed the projects submitted to determine one top winner and to designate any additional projects worthy of special recognition. You can view the NGHS feature in the October issue of Healthcare Design here.
Distinctive Art Source has had the pleasure of working with Northeast Georgia Medical Center to create an art program that helps support the exterior goals by surrounding patients, visitors and staff members with visual reminders of the naturally unique elements and aspects of life in Northeast Georgia. (You can view the Northeast Georgia Medical Center North Patient Tower project sheet here.)
On a recent site visit to NGHS I found myself strolling the gardens. I hadn’t planned to do that — in fact, I was in a hurry to get to a meeting. But I caught a glimpse of the gardens from a distance and the vibrant colors and natural beauty were irresistible. As I walked closer to the gardens, I started to hear the sounds of nature and it was as if a siren called to me! I couldn’t possibly resist the urge to step inside. I was compelled to explore them, taking the time to photograph my experience. The serene beauty slowed me down and allowed me to breathe deeply. As I enjoyed the gardens, I read the stories of the people behind them and felt connected to them. It was just the kind of escape I needed on a busy day! So I can personally attest to the power of the lush garden landscape and its ability to enhance the visitor experience.