The client desired to preserve the hospital’s historical precedent of a desert setting campus and private courtyard gardens while improving overall circulation, viewsheds and function.

Tucson Medical Center’s primary goal in developing a PAD District was to create a zoning tool to establish key planning criteria for future development with the end result of providing state-of-the art and timely health care for the Tucson and the Southern Arizona community. The PAD’s site planning promoted an ambitious
campus redevelopment plan to improve both the staff ‘s working experience and the patient experience.

Unique Features:
Existing vehicular circulation was studied and  recommendations for improving both circulation and viewsheds were provided.  A network of walking / biking pathways was identified providing shaded outdoor activities for both staff and patients. The PAD’s landscape recommendations also provided for healthy and attractive urban vegetation with an emphasis on a native, drought-tolerant landscape consistent with the Sonoran Desert setting. The historic precedent of private courtyard gardens was preserved and augmented.  

Responsibilities:

Landscape recommendations, rendered conceptual landscape plans and sketches to be included in the final PAD document. With Wheat Scharf Associates.