Baptist Hospital’s Landscape Evolution
From Blueprint to Bloom
The New Baptist Hospital Landscape Journey
Baptist Hospital, Pensacola, FL
Project Overview
Baptist Hospital has been serving the healthcare needs of the Pensacola community since 1912. In 2020, Baptist Health Care introduced a plan to build a new, state-of-the-art Baptist Hospital that would set the standard for modern healthcare in the area. The massive three-year, $650 million project had an aggressive timeline and would be closely watched by local authorities, so there was no room for error.
With a solid reputation for having the resources and manpower to properly manage large commercial projects, Executive Landscaping was one of four companies invited by the general contractor to participate in the bid for the landscaping portion of the project. Executive was fully engaged throughout the comprehensive three-bid process and, ultimately, was chosen to handle the project.
The Challenges
One of the challenges was the sheer scope of the project which was to be completed within nine months.
With a project of this size, there are usually multiple challenges, and weather always plays a role. Often, however, the most challenging part of a large project is navigating and respecting the partnerships that are immediately formed. The general contractor wants to make sure everything is on schedule and on budget. The architect wants to ensure his/her vision is understood and will be brought to fruition. Plus, there is typically an army of subcontractors that have cables and pipes crisscrossing the grounds to be landscaped, and they want to avoid errors that could lead to disruption and delays.
The Grounds
- 30,000 sq. ft. of colored concrete
- 20,000 sq. ft. of pavers
- 200 units of site furnishings (benches, garbage cans, bicycle racks, etc.)
- 11 acres of Bermuda sod
- 150 zones of irrigation with 4,000 sprinkler heads and 50,000 drip emitters
- 500 trees
- 50,000 plants
Executive's Solutions
To keep all parties apprised of progress on the landscaping front, Executive worked hand in hand with Brasfield & Gorrie, the general contractor, and Gresham Smith, the architect, to establish clear communication channels. Weekly updates were scheduled, but often, the parties would communicate several times a day, as the scope and pace of this project all but demanded.
In addition to helping establish a comprehensive communication plan, Executive Landscaping proposed a drip irrigation solution. This solution included 50,000 drip emitters that would result in significantly less water consumption annually versus a traditional irrigation solution.
OUR LANDSCAPING SERVICE OFFERS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH A COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AT A VALUE YOU’LL APPRECIATE.
Finished Project
Despite weather challenges that spanned from nonstop rain in the spring to near-drought conditions in the summer, once the plants were in, the project was on track to finish on schedule in August of 2023.
Since the water feature was installed in an open turf area, we needed to temper its starkness and make it appear to be a naturally occurring part of the landscape amidst the pristine forest surrounding it. To achieve such authenticity, we wrapped the water feature with plants cohesive to the nearby forestry and wetland vegetation along the banks of the lake.
The highlight of the project from a landscaping point of view is the Town Square, located at the front of the hospital. Encompassing two full acres of land, this area includes a camelia garden, which is now home to 25 extremely rare camelia bushes that Executive was in charge of sourcing, transporting and planting. These magnificent plants were selected in honor of the late Lewis Bear Jr., a major contributor to the project and a huge fan of camelias. The first bloom of these camelias will occur in November 2023 and last through March 2024.