The expansion of Seton Medical Center creates a new “front door” image for a dated 1970s hospital, adding a day surgery, entry and chapel. Glass and light provide a sense of precision and technological sophistication alongside a certain softness and elusiveness–appropriate for a building where modern medicine deals with both scientific exactness and human frailty. A long volume faced with translucent glass is strung along the north face, drawing soft light into recovery rooms without sacrificing visual privacy. At night, the glass volume is lit from within, lending a safe, glowing presence. A similar glass vocabulary gives the entry a sense of penetrability, also connecting the chapel with the garden.
