Healthcare Planner

CCU College of Health and Human Performance groundbreaking. Garvin Design Group and project partners celebrated the start of construction on the new Conway Medical Center College of Health and Human Performance building at a special groundbreaking ceremony held on September 30. Garvin Design Group partnered with regional design leader Flad Architects to provide architectural programming and design for the 85,000,000 sf facility. Hood Construction is the construction manager for the project. The new interdisciplinary facility provides modern updates for some of CCU's fastest-growing programs of study with a significant focus on enhancing healthcare education, research, and community wellness initiatives within the region. "We're proud to work with Coastal Carolina to help create an active learning environment that will empower student success and support health science research and public health," Flad Principal Designer Chuck Mummert said. Featuring specialized, state-of-the-art experiential learning spaces, it will be home to programs in nursing, exercise science, physical therapy, recreation and sport management, public health science, and health administration. "We have enjoyed our collaboration with Coastal Carolina, Flad, and Hood," said Scott Garvin, Garvin Design Group President. "Our design team is honored to be involved with such a transformational project on campus." A range of classroom sizes, active learning labs, collaboration spaces, and exterior courtyards and terraces are open for all CCU students and faculty to use, encouraging the sharing of resources and experiences that will prepare students for interprofessional settings in the workforce and graduate study. "Hood Construction is extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with Coastal Carolina and Garvin Design Group on such a significant building on campus," said Charles Stuart, Hood Construction VP. "This building will provide an exceptional opportunity for the next generation of health care professionals in our region, and we are excited to be able to contribute." The Health and Human Performance Building is targeting Two Green Globes certification and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2028.

WASHINGTON: suspended ceiling. The project team coordinated carefully to achieve a continuous flowing form while using a product not inherently designed to curve. Research facility Location: Seattle Contractor: Anning-Johnson Company Architect: Flad Architects Labor partners: Laborers International Union of North America; Western States Carpenters This tenant improvement project for an undisclosed confidential client within an existing building in Seattle features a custom suspended wood ceiling system developed as a prototype for future phases currently under construction. The project involved the design and installation of a highly sculptural ceiling intended to evoke the motion of a wave approaching shore. Flad Architects and Anning-Johnson Company collaborated closely to translate this conceptual design into a buildable and repeatable system. Anning-Johnson performed the complete suspended ceiling scope, including the custom fabrication and installation of the wood ceiling assemblies. The complexity of the ceiling geometry and the requirement to achieve a continuous flowing form while using a product not inherently designed to curve in this manner made this project unique and challenging. Over several months of design coordination with the architect and general contractor, Anning-Johnson constructed a full-scale mock-up in its warehouse to study geometry, attachment methods, and visual continuity. This process allowed the project team to refine the system and achieve the desired architectural expression. The city of Seattle required the entire ceiling system to be provided with toolless access. To meet this requirement, Anning-Johnson engineered the ceiling as a torsion spring system, introducing additional technical and coordination challenges. The installation required repositioning panel backers to align with the suspension grid, as well as close collaboration with the manufacturer, who modified backer locations on each panel to match field conditions. When reviewing the entries for this award the judges were impressed by the thoughtful problem-solving, and execution of the toolless access system. The team delivered a custom ceiling system that met regulatory requirements while maintaining the design intent and a high level of craftsmanship.