Architectural Contrast

 

I was heading west on McDowel Road when I noticed the contrast between these two hospital buildings.  The building in the foreground is the oldest.  It was completed in 1982.  I posted about it here.

The tall building behind it was added in 2017 after around two years of construction.  I did a post about the construction progress here.  

Both buildings belong to the Banner University Medical Center.  It's probably the biggest hospital complex in the Phoenix area.  These two buildings couldn't be more different. 

The Lady Has Been Moved

 

I took this photo in September of 2015 and it's been sitting in the archives ever since.  The sculpture was located outside an entrance to Banner University Medical Center in central Phoenix.  There wasn't a sign or other information about the sculpture so I never posted it.

Recently, I saw the same sculpture had been moved to a new location outside the entrance to the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center only this time it does have a descriptive sign.  

The sculpture is titled "Woman" and the description reads "Image of woman as strength, energy and Mother Earth, her hair mixing with the moon and stars and sun and clouds overhead." The artist is Carole Harrison and it was a gift to the hospital from Debra Withers.

Well Known Clinic

Yesterday it was a brand new hospital wing for Banner University Medical Center, today it's another medical facility this time in Scottsdale.  I bet everyone has heard of the famous Mayo Clinic founded in Rochester Minnesota.  They also have a huge presence in Arizona with at least 8 facilities here.  Most of them are all located in Scottsdale.  I think someone told me that this particular  building has hospital facilities along with clinical offices.  The Mayo Clinic still has facilities in Minnesota but I see they've expanded greatly in Arizona and Florida.  I wonder if that is because of the large retirement communities in both states.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I have something a little different, some random shots from Italy.

Building a New Tower

The Banner University Medical Center has added a new tower to their hospital campus and it is now open for business.  I watched this building go up and took several photos along the way.  Here they are.

I first noticed it in October of 2016 when I took this photo.  

One evening in January of 2017, I saw it all lit up at night while workers continue to work on the building.

March through June of 2017, they were starting to put the building cladding on it but as you can see from these two photos, they still had a way to go.

By August of 2017, it was taking shape.

The photo at the top is how it looks today.

All About the Architecture

I posted a photo of this building way back in 2009 but I think it's due for an update.  This is Banner Good Samaritan Hospital.  It's a very striking building that certainly draws your attention.  It was designed by Bertrand Goldberg, the same guy who designed the famous Marina Towers in Chicago.

St. Joseph

This is the main entrance to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.  I can see the buildings that make up this center from my back yard.  The hospital has served the Phoenix area for over 115 years it is ranked 8^th in the nation in neurology and neurosurgery.

Emergency Services

I live close to one of the major hospitals in Phoenix, St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center. From time to time, I can hear the emergency helicopters landing on the roof of one of the hospital buildings. When I heard one land this morning, I decided to drive closer to the hospital to see if I could catch it when it took off again. I didn’t have to wait long before the engines restarted and it flew away on another mission of mercy.