Project category: Addition (completed December 2004)

Chief administrator: Thomas D. Miller, Chief Executive Officer, (260) 435-7011

Firm: MSKTD & Associates, Inc., (260) 432-9337

Design team: Chuck Braden, Principal-in-Charge, Healthcare Planner; Nick Slater, Project Architect; Mark Peters, Project Manager; Sue Parrish, Interior Designer; Mike Nichter, Mechanical Engineer, Principal

Total building area (sq. ft.): 64,000 (new); 1,000 (renovation)

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $185 (new); $185 (renovation)

Total construction cost (excluding land): $11,840,000 (new); $185,000 (renovation)


Lutheran Hospital of Indiana has a long history of firsts in cardiac care, including the region’s first coronary bypass in 1970 and Northeast Indiana’s first heart transplant in 1985. This commitment to excellence continues with the establishment of the Lutheran Heart Pavilion, a two-story, 65,000-square-foot cardiovascular surgery building connected to Lutheran Hospital. The project significantly upgrades Lutheran’s heart services to meet the ever-increasing needs of the community.

A highlight of the Heart Pavilion is a soaring lobby with waiting space for more than 120 visitors. The lobby structure creates a strong identity and serves as the main entrance to the Heart Pavilion. Soothing colors; an abundance of warm, natural sunlight; and 18-foot palm trees greet visitors. The lobby is on axis with Lutheran Hospital’s main entrance and lobby on the opposite side of the building, creating logical circulation through the building. The scope includes four new state-of-the-art operating rooms devoted to cardiovascular surgery and 22 private preoperative and postoperative rooms, each with individual heart monitoring systems, enhancing the quality of care. Five cardiac catheterization labs are also part of the centralized integration of services.

The lower level contains a 22,000-square-foot material service center allowing the Lutheran Health Network to centralize their distribution and stores. This facility features a computerized storage carousel for high-density storage. The lower level also created needed space for meeting and dining rooms along with an outdoor terrace.