Mercy Joplin Hospital

Joplin, MO
Art Delivering Health and Hope
Details

Mercy Joplin Hospital is an 875,000-square-foot, seven-story, 260-plus private-room hospital that replaced the former St. John’s Mercy Regional Medical Center demolished in the May 22, 2011, EF-5 tornado. Spellman Brady & Company developed an artwork master plan consisting of over 1,200 pieces of artwork. The project was based on photographs of regional landscapes and macro images of nature that relate to the Joplin campus. In addition to the landscape themes, we worked closely with Mercy’s archival resources to gather historical photos that represent the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy.

Objective

Lessen the stress with nature-inspired and calming artwork for a community reeling from trauma

Provide a sense of history & community

Expedite project timeline to help ensure the community was back up and running with a completed hospital

Solution

Worked with regional fine art photographers to take photos of indigenous plants and landscapes, allowing the patients’ eye to transition smoothly from the interior space to the exterior landscape and vice versa.

Gathered historical imagery from Mercy Joplin and Mercy Corporate

Installed over 1,000 pieces of art in 4 days

Services
Artwork Master Planning
Architect
Archimages & HKS, Inc.
Builder
McCarthy Building Companies
Photographer
Alise O’Brien
This project was meaningful on many levels. It wasn’t only about a facility; it was about people – a community suffering from loss and devastation. Our job was to give them hope – give them back their hospital. This rebuilding effort became part of the healing process for the community.
Norman Morgan, AIA, HKS

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