Bassett Army Hospital at Fort Wainwright, Alaska
The Bassett Army Community Hospital is a testament to ingenuity by incorporating energy efficiency, and seismic and thermal requirements in a state-of-the-art medical facility. The building envelope was designed to control temperature migration to the building interior with outdoor temperatures ranging from 90 degrees to minus 60 degrees. The building fenestrations were designed with an airtight seal utilizing 4-inch deep insulated glazing units with thermal breaks to bring natural light into the building. Use of natural light in a healthcare facility has tremendous benefits, such as improved patient recovery times and improvements to general health and circadian rhythm.