Hello from the Hale County Hospital Courtyard 2 Team! (HCHC2 for short)
Here’s a little bit about our project:
Hale County Hospital was built in 1963 with a Hill Burton government grant that supported many rural hospitals. Since then, the hospital has expanded multiple times, forming the current “U” shape. The Hale County Hospital prides itself on standing out, not as a state-of-the-art healthcare hub, but as a community health center where neighbors look after each-other. “We’re high-touch, not high-tech” they said, summing up their mission nicely. The hospital is the second biggest employer in the county with 142 people.
The Hale County Hospital was a Rural Studio project in 2006; however, the needs of the courtyard have significantly changed over the past 13 years. The hospital staff provided us with a wish list for the courtyard, which emphasized their desire to use the space for their therapy program. The most exciting opportunities with this project include the impact it will have on the community and the hospital’s growth, being able to learn from the previous design, and providing a wide variety of uses.
aerial view of site 
aerial view of courtyard
Here’s a little bit about us:
Nicole Brown hails from Dallas, Texas and is fond of her cat, skiing, and spicy food so hot it burns her mouth off. She is constantly organized and helps us keep our lives and project together.
Jake Schirmer is from Blacksburg, Virginia and loves his mother, his truck, soft pretzels, and playin’ ball. He is known for being charismatic, hard-working, and incredibly good at all things graphic.
Ingrid Stahl comes to us from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and enjoys frisbee, watercoloring, and baking delicious treats for her team. Her enthusiasm and fun-loving attitude keep us positive and motivated.
Kyra Stark was born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas and has a deep appreciation for rodeos, crisp vegetables, and listening to loud dance music way too early in the morning. She keeps the world (and anyone else who will listen) updated about our project and loves to write more than any architect we know.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our work on the Hale County Hospital Courtyard!