Distinguished by a gently curved curtain of glass that evokes blissful images of a billowy sail, the new hospital won praise from Charleston’s architectural review board, which is well known for its critical eye and fierce protection of the city’s storied skyline.

To design a hospital that would best meet the needs of patients and their physicians, the hospital’s leadership turned to the experts: its own medical staff and internationally known hospital design firm NBBJ. The firm has designed award-winning architecture all over the world, including facilities for some of the country’s best hospitals. By working closely with local architects at LS3P and MUSC’s top strategic and clinical minds, NBBJ designed a hospital that soon will set a new standard for health care in the region.

Weathering the Storm
Ashley River Tower is unique, not only for its design and clinical features, but also because of what can’t be seen. Its infrastructure, materials and design were subject to stringent new U.S. building codes, making it as strong as any modern building in the nation.

	Ashley River Tower is the first free standing health facility in the country subject to both the latest seismic and hurricane construction codes. Great measurements have been made in both the structure and designs to give this facility the strength to take the most severe natural disasters.
	The facility also features a fire protection system to safeguard against a loss of water source during a seismic event. A 20,000 gallon storage tank on the ground floor of the facility will allow the fire department to fight a fire for approximately 60 minutes.
	A storm lift station will also protect against the cyclical flooding conditions present in downtown Charleston, pumping flood water out to the river to maintain access to the facility during inclement weather.