At 928,000 square feet, Essentia Health Vision Northland will deliver a new flagship hospital for the healthcare organization and a new face to its downtown location on the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minn.

Submitted to the Design Showcase by EwingCole (Philadelphia), the $800 million in-progress project is slated to open in July 2022, consolidating facilities to improve efficiency for Essentia Health and creating an environment defined by engaging hospitality-inspired spaces and biophilic design.

Jurors celebrated the building as feeling at one with the site—the exterior featuring curvilinear forms that blend into the waterfront and interiors guided by imagery and graphics depicting the natural surroundings. Additional defining features include an expansive roof garden overlooking the lake that’s accessible to patients, visitors, and the public, and a sustainability strategy that meets or exceeds local standards.