Augusta Health Tabs Pair of Firms to Design New Columbia County Hospital
By HCO Staff
AUGUSTA, Ga.—The Board of Directors at Augusta University Health (AU Health) recently announced it has chosen the team of SmithGroup and TVS as the architects for the Columbia County hospital in Augusta. AU Health is Georgia’s only public academic health center and is the primary teaching affiliate of the Medical College of Georgia.
The integrated team of SmithGroup and TVS will develop an innovative healing environment that exemplifies the patient- and family-centered care provided by Augusta University Health for the new greenfield hospital facility, medical office building and central utility plant. Together the team will provide integrated medical planning, architecture, interior architecture, urban design, landscape architecture and MEP engineering.
“We look forward to developing an innovative design for the Augusta University Health campus that will deliver highly specialized care to Columbia County in an exceptional setting,” said Cindy Beckham, SmithGroup’s principal in charge for the project and studio leader at its Washington, DC office.
SmithGroup previously developed the master plan for the Augusta University medical campus, where the new facility will be located. SmithGroup’s Health Practice encompasses a range of specialty expertise, including strategic facility planning and design for all types of public and private health organizations.
“We are building this hospital for generations. Architect selection is a cornerstone of creating a hospital that will make Columbia County proud,” said AU Health CEO Katrina Keefer. “This is a generational investment in Columbia County and we look forward to the campus being a place of healing for our community.”
The Columbia County hospital is expected to open to the community in 2025. Schematic design for the hospital begins immediately.