Precious Metal

Facility: Maple Grove Hospital
Location: Maple Grove, Minn.
Architect: BWBR Architects, St. Paul, Minn.

When designing the new ambulatory care center for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, architects at Leo A Daly looked to the Paiute, Shoshone and Washoe tribes' rich culture for inspiration.

Inspired by a nearby grove of trees, Maple Grove (Minn.) Hospital features a copper-colored exterior and "Maple Green" accents. "We chose the copper color to pick up the color of the leaves changing over time. Copper communicates transitions—from the new copper color to a patina," says Jim Davy, principal with BWBR Architects. "This also helps represent the transition in health care and in getting better."

The hospital's copper finish is a two-coat mica paint coating, which helps eliminate the risk of color variation. It also is weather resistant.

"The copper finish not only reflects the natural environment, but also is applied with environmental sensitivity," says Tammy Schroeder, technical support specialist for Linetec, the Wausau, Wis.-based company that finished the canopies, column covers and specialty panels. "It further conserves resources with its durability and low-maintenance, even in the face of the demanding Northern climate."

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