Project Profiles: Health Care

Vinita Health Center, Vinita, Okla.

Team

Roofing Contractor: Harness Roofing Inc., Tulsa, Okla.
Architect: Childers Architect, Fort Smith, Ark.

Roof Materials

Approximately 43,500 square feet of PAC-CLAD Snap-Clad panels was installed on the structure’s roof. The 22-gauge, 12-inch-wide panels were finished in Cool Color Granite and fabricated at the manufacturer’s Tyler, Texas, plant.

Approximately 43,500 square feet of PAC-CLAD Snap-Clad panels was installed on the structure’s roof.

Approximately 43,500 square feet of PAC-CLAD Snap-Clad panels was installed on the structure’s roof.


“There was a lot of complicated detailing on the job,” says Jason Irvin, branch manager for Harness Roofing, which installed the roofing panels. “We field-fabricated a complex gutter design, including custom downspouts and an internal gutter system on a major part of the building. The architect was very involved in the design and installation.”

“Harness Roofing did a superb job on the detailing,” notes Breck Childers, project architect, Childers Architect. “We also designed an inverted roof for certain areas and Harness really rose to the challenge. We worked closely with them; it was a good team. The job really turned out great!”

Standing-seam Metal Roof Panel Manufacturer: Petersen Aluminum Corp.

Roof Report

The new Vinita Health Center is a sparkling addition to the Cherokee Nation Health System, the largest tribally owned health-care system in the U.S. Vinita Health Center is the health system’s second largest center and replaces a previous 4,000-square-foot clinic. The new center is located on a 23-acre site and offers a complete range of comprehensive medical care.

“The concept for the Vinita Center started with the idea that architecture should be familiar to the local population,” Childers explains. “At the same time, it should reflect the culture and values of the people it serves.”

The design of the 92,000-square-foot facility particularly references an important time frame in Cherokee Nation history when Cherokees fought in the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. The Vinita Health Center is adorned with original Cherokee art and lithographs depicting events during that period and how they affected members of the Cherokee Nation. Two significant battles were fought at nearby Cabin Creek, pitting Cherokees against Cherokees. After the war, the years 1861-80 became known as a time of “Fighting and Healing” when Cherokee Nation brought about reconciliation.

“The design was truly inspired by the ‘Fighting and Healing’ era,” Childers adds. “The structures of that timeframe relied heavily on wood and stone construction materials. We added the metal roof because of its durability and the desire to be consistent with the standing-seam roofs generally used on most other Cherokee Nation buildings.”

However, the PAC-CLAD Granite color on the Vinita Health Center differs from the customary dark green color used on most other Cherokee Nation buildings. “We selected the lighter PAC-CLAD color to help us go after LEED Silver Certification,” Childers notes. LEED Silver certification is in progress. Other sustainable features contributing to LEED status include locally sourced materials, natural daylighting, low-flow fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and drought-tolerant landscaping.

PHOTO: Petersen Aluminum Corp.

Be the first to comment on "Project Profiles: Health Care"

Leave a Reply