Tinted, High-Performance Vitro Glass Curtain Wall Delivers Performance and Aesthetics for North Carolina Cancer Center

Reconstituted stone, brick and an expansive glazed curtain wall present a striking and welcoming exterior for the new 120,000 sq. ft. FirstHealth Cancer Center in Pinehurst, N.C.

The architect CPL selected Vistacool Azuria glasses and Vistacool Pacifica glasses, each with a third-surface Solarban 60 low-e coating to lend a beautiful aqua-blue and rich-blue aesthetic to the glass façade to deliver controlled daylight and reduced energy use.

Photography: Jim Cunningham

Patients, families and staff enter through an easy to navigate, two-story glass atrium decorated with a monumental stair, vertical wood slats and a DNA-like LED installation that can be programmed to display various colors, patterns or scenes. A visitor center is designed as a cozy “living room” and overflow waiting space, and features a fireplace, warm detailing and computers to provide access to online resources.

“Designed to both calm and lift the spirits of everyone here, they call it a gleaming compilation of glass, light and contemporary lines,” stated broadcast journalist Keith Eldridge.

Bridging the gaps in cancer treatment in central North Carolina, the new center consolidates services in one centralized four-story addition to the Moore Regional Hospital campus serving the state’s Sandhills region and its 15 counties.

The glazed and spandrel curtain wall comprises the majority of the façade with strategically placed reconstituted stone creating accents, visual depth and interest. To the right of the main entrance, red brick clads the curtain wall.

The architect describes the shifting form as mirroring the continuous progress of cancer care, capturing perpetual motion and advancement with a rich blue façade that is bright, welcoming and subtly reflective.

Vistacool Azuria glass combined with Solarban 60 glass shields 74% of the of the solar heat gain while allowing 42% visible light. Vistacool Pacifica glass paired with Solarban 60 glass shields 78% of the of the solar heat gain while allowing 26% visible light.

Facing the northwest, indirect sunlight enters the space most of the day while direct daylight comes in during the late afternoon and early evening. In addition to the glass tint, automatic window shades control glare when required.

A ground-level healing garden and rooftop garden offer beautiful outdoor environments. Interior glass walls in the infusion bays support privacy while enabling access to natural light and views of the garden. A fourth-floor wellness hub houses floor-to-ceiling glass rooms with fitness equipment and spaces for art therapy, music, yoga and meditation.

The overarching goal of the services, amenities and design is providing a facility to support patients throughout every phase of their treatment experiences.

“The goal was to create a nexus that offers the highest quality of holistic cancer care for patients, their families and caregivers,” stated CPL Project Manager Robin Washco, AIA.

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