Mercy Health System Selects Architects for 21st Century Medical Complex

Rogers, AR (March 30, 2003) - Mercy Health of Northwest Arkansas has selected Perkins & Will to lead the architectural partnership, including local and regional firms, to develop the new medical campus at I-540 between New Hope Road and Perry Road in northwest Arkansas.

Perkins & Will and their affiliate Amirmoez, Foster, Hailey and Johnson (AFHJ) of Fayetteville, will assume the primary lead. Crafton, Tull & Associates of Rogers, and TME Consulting Engineers of Little Rock are among other firms that will carry significant responsibilities in the project.

Susan Barrett, President/CEO for Mercy Health, said finding the right architects to take on this project began more than eight months ago with a request for proposals and ended earlier this week with a decision by the local Board of Trustees.

"In making this decision, we looked for a firm who demonstrated clear understanding of our vision of transforming the care experience for the people we serve, the work experience of the providers through applied technology, and the significant opportunity to engineer patient safety into the design of the building. The firm needed to recognize the importance of northwest Arkansas and share our vision for the campus, and our enthusiasm for the land as well," Barrett said.

"The land gifted to us by Mrs. Evelyn Rife was an important part of what we envision as a world-class healing environment," Barrett said. "The interstate frontage property includes 75 acres of land that was donated to Mercy Health from the estate of Evelyn Rife and the family of Pete Walsh. We are building more than a structure with bricks and mortar. This will be a quantum leap forward in healthcare for northwest Arkansas."

David Swearingen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Mercy Health System, said: "The plans we have will transform the healthcare environment including the work and business transaction side of healthcare and will benefit our entire region."

The medical campus will total approximately 500,000 square feet. In addition to enhanced emergency and trauma services, the major medical center will include world-class care in women's and children's, cardiology, surgery, oncology, orthopedics, neurological, rehabilitation and outpatient services.

Carmen Lehman, chair of the capital campaign, said: "The Foundation began a capital fundraising campaign in January to secure $40 million. We have titled our campaign, Building world-class healthcare, the northwest Arkansas Way, and that's what we plan to do. We have begun engaging the community in an extraordinary fund-raising effort."

The additional finances needed to complete the project will be funded by a $100 million investment by Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas.

Dick Trammel, a member of the Board of Trustees and a member of the capital campaign cabinet, said: "It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of this initiative, I mean that! And, I'm really excited about the input our healthcare workers and community will have in developing this medical campus. Perkins & Will, teamed with our local and state firms, is our best solution in making our dream a reality."

Since Perkins & Will's beginnings in the 1935, the firm has completed more than 1,000 planning and design projects for more than 300 medical institutions throughout the world.

"Health care facilities remain the most life critical environments that we design and as such, our health care planning and design teams include the most seasoned, capable and creative design professionals in the industry," said Jones Lindgren, who is Perkins & Will's health care market sector leader.

Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, a not-for-profit faith-based health system, provides health care services to residents in northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma. Mercy includes St. Mary's Hospital, 11 locations of Mercy Medical Clinics, Mercy Health Center and recent expansion of the Mercy Heart Group. Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas is a member of the Sisters of Mercy Health System. The Sisters of Mercy Health System operates hospitals, physician practices, outpatient clinics, health plans and related health and human services in a seven state area including Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Mercy Health has invested $102 million over the past seven years in the operations of the hospital, outpatient health centers and physicians clinics. In addition, the hospital provided $20.3 million in charitable care over the past three years.

Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas is governed by a local Board of Trustees that includes David Swearingen, Dick Trammel, Dr. James Arkins, Dr. William Swindell, Dr. Harry Harmon, Rev. David McKay, Lisa Ray, David Matthews, Susan Barrett, Sr. Annrene Brau, RSM; Sr. Mary Anne O'Brien, RSM; and Sr. Rachelle Riley, OP.