As Mississippi’s only medical facility devoted exclusively to children, the 340,000-square-foot Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower expansion at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson features a 40-foot curtain wall atrium with Solarban^® 90 glass from Vitro Architectural Glass. 

Earning an Engineering News-Record Award of Merit, the tower, designed by HDR and CDFL Architects, gracefully combines metal panels, brick, and glazing to present an engaging, modern facade that successfully blends with the existing campus.

The seven-story tower houses a surgical platform, imaging suite, 32-bed pediatric intensive care unit, two floors of neonatal intensive care unit beds, three floors of flexible multidisciplinary specialty clinics and extensive family and staff amenity spaces. The building consolidates previously scattered outpatient clinics into one location and links up with the existing hospital delivering pediatric care in 30 different specialty areas including the state’s only programs for cancer, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia and congenital heart defects.

The architects optimized the building’s orientation and sized the glazing to optimize daylighting and occupant comfort. Constructed with Solarban^® 90 glass + clear glass, the large canopy entrance and soaring atrium deliver exceptional clarity and welcome in 49% of the natural light while blocking 93% of the UV rays. 

The team also specified Solarban^® 90 glass for ribbons of windows and horizontal glass panels interspersed with spandrel glass to match the horizontal metal panels in various shades of grey on other parts of the facade. 

The mix of metal, glass and brick helps the building fit in with the neighborhood’s industrial character on a residential scale.

Inside, the interiors embrace a Mississippi Delta aesthetic referencing the coasts, hills and pines on the patient floors. The design also incorporates colorful features and memorable touchpoints for comfort and wayfinding.

Designed both to boost the hospital’s pediatric care delivery and support the University’s medical education mission, Dr. Anita Henderson, president of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, stated, “The Sanderson Tower is here not only to treat our children, but also to train the next generation of pediatricians and physicians.”

For more information about Solarban^® 90 glass and other Vitro Architectural Glass products, visit www.vitroglazings.com or call 1-855-VTRO-GLS (887-6457).