Resource Center

Essentia Health opened its doors to the new St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota. The hospital aimed to become more efficient and redefine its patient experience with bold, innovative, and sustainable solutions. The striking new building overlooks Lake Superior with a design that is meant to draw from the neighboring town and elements of the lake. As a sign of progressive redevelopment, the hospital will help to financially stimulate the downtown Superior Street area, an underutilized commercial and entertainment hub of Duluth.

Prominent features include amenity deck space on multiple levels, accessible plazas, and rooftop gardens with amazing views of the city and the Great Lake. There is overwhelming evidence that a connection to nature actively supports the healing process for patients, especially children. There are also many other reasons to incorporate a green or living roof into a design, including energy conservation, water management, and financial benefits.

Due to the harsh elements of the area a Protect Membrane Roof Assembly (PMR) was the ideal choice to bring this vision to life. Hydrotech’s Monolithic Membrane 6125® was chosen to keep the building watertight for the life of the structure. The Garden Roof® Assembly covers over 10,000 square feet and is planted with multiple layers of wildflowers and shrubs that have boosted the site’s bird and bee population. This pairs perfectly with the Ultimate Assembly® that covers 12,500 square feet in beautiful limestone grey where patients, healthcare workers, and visitors can gather or take a break.