Artificial Cedar Trees Provide Scale In Courtyard

situation:

Luther Middelfort Hospital in Eau Claire, WI was completing an addition which included an exterior courtyard visible from both patient rooms as well as administrative offices. Commercial Silk Int’l encountered the following design challenges:

● The enclosed courtyard was surrounded on all sides by a three story building. The result was a harsh environment that, in addition to having limited available light, had constant hot air exhausted into the space.

● A vertical scale that dictated large trees.

● A severe slope of 12’ elevation change over the 40’ length of the space.

● Our installation access to the project site was a small 5’x30” single access door through the boiler room.

initiatives:

Commercial Silk Int’l created a design using several of our outdoor artificial cedar trees that would accommodate the topography, provided large vertical elements that would withstand the challenging outdoor weather conditions and provided an interesting visual space for both patients and staff. In addition, our installation crew provided the expertise to install the outdoor artificial trees in a very difficult site.

results:

The groves of cedar trees, native to Wisconsin, defined the space. The trees also added texture, color and interest as well as provided elements that reduced the vertical scale of the atrium.

Large boulders, indigenous to the area, were used as retaining walls to solve the severe slope problems. A dry creek bed provided a focal point in the space and acts as a drainage ditch in the event of substantial rain or snow, and small planting beds were utilized throughout to add seasonal color.

location:

Eau Claire, WI

products:

CEDAR TREE (EXTERIOR)

more resources:

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