The design team was challenged to provide a new patient tower that embodies southern hospitality and embraces the patients, staff and visitors from the surrounding communities and beyond. Through a design language that creates a tailored and choreographed experience, the symbiotic relationship between the interior and exterior was crucial in solidifying and redefining the current healthcare model. It lays the groundwork for blurring the line between the community, hospitality, and healthcare. As these three concepts cross-pollinate and morph in an integrated design expression, it allows a platform for Piedmont to grow into the community as a healthcare hub of the future. Some of the design challenges included connecting buildings throughout the campus, constructing a high-rise tower on a dense urban site, planning for horizontal and vertical expansion by incorporating multiple shell floors for future growth, operational improvements as the result of Lean process improvements workshops, enhancing the furniture experience for patients, visitors and staff, providing flexible plan layouts that allow for change and to provide efficient building systems. The design team crafted a vision around the idea of creating an Iconic Health Destination that serves as a threshold for care, community engagement, commercial/residential/institutional uses, and the internal and external communities it serves. The new 16-story Marcus Tower at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital will become the premier destination center in the Southeast for cardio¬vascular care and enable the expansion of neuro/stroke and transplant services. The location of the Marcus Tower responds to 3 unique contexts: the existing hospital, a historic residential neighborhood and the commercial urban edge on Atlanta’s main corridor, Peachtree Street. Accommodating its connection to the existing hospital, the architecture of the project makes a signature statement and embraces internal spaces that are fashioned to echo the concept of Southern Hospitality, thus creating one cohesive and comfortable transition and an experience that is uniquely Piedmont. This historic site was home to 146 mature trees of varying species, an environment that the community was proud of. To honor this community sentiment, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital decided to replant as many trees as possible. Wood was also salvaged for special feature pieces that have now become integral to the story and design concept of Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. The lobby features an expansive, light-filled, double-height space with a monolithic, wood ceiling extending to the exterior, inviting visitors, both into the space and creating a gathering place for the community in the outside plaza. The interior can be viewed as a cross-section of a tree--with walnut panels cladding the strong horizontal and vertical elements in the public space mimicking the bark and emerald green accents symbolizing the heartwood. The layout of the clinical floors makes it possible to adapt prep and recovery spaces to accommodate patient ICU beds. The COVID pandemic was a real-life test to the viability of the Diagnostic and Treatment chassis design that was planned into the existing building framework. The lighting design accompanied with efficient mechanical systems, occupancy sensors helps the Marcus tower save 27% energy. The slight curve of the tower also provides self-shading during the middle part of the day protecting nearly 25% of the patient rooms on the east side from overexposure from the sun. A daylight harvesting system controls artificial lighting to decrease energy usage. Biophilic artwork comes to life as a vertical force through the tower in an over-arching concept called “The Canopy of Care”. The art team researched species of native plants, curated originals, and created customs graphics that informed the color story of the unique species showcased on each floor. These color stories informed the furniture finishes. Perhaps the best work of art in the building is the expansive view of the city that patients will have from their room in the tower. The building itself wraps the city of Atlanta in a warm embrace and reminds the community that Piedmont Atlanta Hospital is truly the heart of the city.