HU200 Architecture Analysis: Creative Expressions in Local Buildings

This essay provides an architectural analysis of two distinct buildings: Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and West Baden Springs Hotel, both located in Indiana. The analysis of Eskenazi Hospital focuses on its sustainable design features, highlighting its LEED gold certification, rainwater harvesting, green roof, and other environmentally friendly elements. The essay also examines the hospital's incorporation of creativity, function, and form. The analysis of West Baden Springs Hotel emphasizes the seamless integration of interior and exterior environments through its iconic dome atrium, which provides natural light and a connection to the outside. The essay also touches on the historical significance of the hotel and its architectural elements that have made it a famous landmark. The essay uses concepts learned from the Humanities to interpret the works of architecture.

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Painting and Architecture
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Painting and Architecture
Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital
Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital is a public hospital with state-of-the art facilities. The
complex comprises of numerous buildings that are designed around a central green space. Some
of the elements include 327-bed inpatient hospice, 4 interventional labs, 17 operating rooms, 12
delivery & labor rooms, over 200 exam rooms, an emergency department, and an adult burn
center. Figure 1 below is a photo of the building.
Figure 1: Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital (HOK, 2014)
One of the architectural concepts applicable to Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital is
sustainability. This concept has become very important in modern architecture because it helps in
creating environmentally friendly structures. The basic principle of sustainability is to reduce
water, energy and other resources used throughout the lifecycle of a structure, and also to
minimize environmental impacts of the structure through pollution, emission and component
wastes (Ragheb, El-Shimy, & Ragheb, 2016). This concept is very important in architecture

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because it plays a key role in protecting the environment without compromising the
functionality, durability, safety and efficiency of structures. Therefore it directly and indirectly
assists in solving the problem of climate change.
Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital has numerous sustainable features. Some of these
include: rainwater harvesting system, healing gardens, water-efficient fixtures, onsite stormwater
infiltration and treatment systems, parking program for fuel-efficient and low-emitting vehicles,
green roof, and health education program for staff, patients and community members (Guenther
& Vittori, 2013). During construction, 48% of building materials were sourced locally and 80%
of construction waste was recycled. The building is also designed to capitalize on daylighting
and natural ventilation. These sustainable features contributed to the award of Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification (Medical Construction and Design,
2015). Besides sustainability, the building has also incorporated architectural concepts of
creativity, function and form.
West Baden Springs Hotel
This is a six-storey building with a 16-sided exterior. The hotel was built in 1902 and is
known for its unique central dome atrium that has a span of 200 feet (61 meters) (Lankford,
2012). The hotel is part of the French Lick Resort Casino. It comprises of luxury spa amenities,
accommodations and casino. Since its opening in 1902, the hotel has undergone several
renovations and it is still one of the famous architectural buildings in Indiana. It largely attracts
celebrities, tourists and travelers from all over the world. Its unique architectural elements and
distinction made it a national historic landmark and included in the national register of historic
places list. The image of the hotel is as shown in Figure 2 below

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Figure 2: West Baden Springs Hotel (Historic Hotels of America, 2018)
One of the architectural concepts applicable to West Baden Springs Hotel is seamless
integration of interior and exterior environments of buildings. The basis of this concept is to try
as much as possible to create a connection between the interior and exterior of the building,
without compromising the comfort of building users. This concept is important in architecture
because it gives occupants of the building a feel of the external environment, which increases
their comfort level (Wei, et al., 2014).
This architectural concept is demonstrated in West Baden Springs Hotel by the atrium.
The atrium gives the hotel a sense of space and light. It creates a stimulating and dynamic
interior and at the same time maintains a visual link between the internal and external
environments of the building. The skylight allows entry of daylighting, which also reduces
energy consumed by lighting fixtures during the day. The dome atrium of West Baden Springs
Hotel is one of the architectural elements that have made the building famous all over the world.
Atriums were very common in ancient Roman times but have become very common features
among today’s building designers, developers and users because they are seen as prestigious
amenities that increase appeal and commercial value of the building.

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References
Guenther, R., & Vittori, G. (2013). Sustainable Healthcare Architecture, 2nd edition. New Jersey, U.S.:
John Wiley & Sons.
Historic Hotels of America. (2018, July 8). West Baden Springs Hotel. Retrieved from Hisoric Hotels of
America: http://www.historichotels.org/hotels-resorts/west-baden-springs-hotel/hotel-
deals.php
HOK. (2014). A New Model for Public Health. Retrieved from HOK:
http://www.hok.com/about/sustainability/eskenazi-health-sidney-and-lois-eskenazi-hospital/
Lankford, S. (2012). West Baden Springs Hotel . Retrieved from SAH Archipedia: http://sah-
archipedia.org/detail/content/entries/IN-01-117-0040.xml
Medical Construction and Design. (2015, December 7). Eskenazi Health Project Earns LEED Gold
Certification. Retrieved from Medical Construction and Design:
https://mcdmag.com/2015/12/eskenazi-health-project-earns-leed-gold-certification/
#.W0IEf2NRXIU
Ragheb, A., El-Shimy, H., & Ragheb, G. (2016). Green Architecture: A Concept of Sustainability. Procedia
- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 216(1), 778-787.
Wei, N., Xiao, X., Zhipeng, L., Yang, D., Lu, Z., & Weiyang, L. (2014). A Study of Design Methods and
Strategies of Space Integration for the Building Facilities in Scenic Spots. Architecture Research,
4(2), 43-47.