When critical building challenges surface in healthcare facilities — patient comfort, safety, operational efficiency, and long-term financial performance all hang in the balance.
A recent cover story for Applicator Magazine on the modernization of the St. Francis Downtown patient tower in Greenville, South Carolina, offers a compelling example for hospital owners and facilities managers facing similar challenges.
An Aging Hospital Tower with Critical Needs
Originally constructed in 1969 and expanded in the 1980s, the tower had been experiencing persistent masonry deterioration, water intrusion, and air infiltration for years. Despite multiple repair attempts, the issues continued, forcing owner Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) to address the critical question: repair — or replace?
Rather than defaulting to demolition, BSMH chose a more strategic path. A comprehensive forensic investigation in partnership with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) and McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) revealed systemic deficiencies in the building envelope, including inadequate structural support, poor moisture management, and aging window systems well beyond their service life.
A Successful Modernization Plan
What followed was not simply a repair project, but a modernization of the building’s performance and optimization of the patient experience. By evaluating both traditional repairs and more transformative options, the team identified a partial recladding strategy that would address core deficiencies while unlocking added value. Replacing key portions of the façade with high-performance curtain wall systems improved thermal performance, enhanced daylighting for patients, and modernized the building’s appearance. Approximately 40% of the enclosure was reclad, while hundreds of patient rooms and restrooms were also renovated.
Successful collaboration and continuous coordination among the owner, design team, contractor (James R. Vannoy & Sons Construction Company), and regulatory authorities enabled fast decision-making, streamlined approvals, and agile responses to field conditions. The result: a tower modernization completed on time and on budget, despite the complexities of working in an active hospital during a global pandemic.
Realizing Long-Term Value
Today, the tower stands as a high-performing, patient-centered facility with improved energy efficiency, enhanced durability, and elevated patient satisfaction. The building is now positioned to serve its community for decades to come.
For healthcare leaders, the takeaway is clear: building failures don’t have to signal the end of an asset’s lifecycle. With the right assessments, expertise, collaboration, and vision, facility challenges can become catalysts for meaningful transformation that improves operational resilience, patient experience, and long-term value.
Read the featured story here:
https://www.flipsnack.com/58EEA588B7A/app-spring-26-v48-2-final
