The Order of Saint Francis (OSF) HealthCare has grown from 8,000 employees to nearly 24,000 since the early 2000s, including the addition of physicians, nurses, and a growing team of administrators and support staff. Following this growth, the organization saw a need to bring many of its Peoria-based administrative Mission Partners, or employees, under one roof, thereby creating a collaborative environment. In 2018, OSF acquired the former Block & Kuhl building in downtown Peoria, Illinois, to house its Ministry Headquarters. The structure was built more than 118 years ago and is iconic to the downtown area for its character, architecture, and history. Following OSF’s purchase of the building, which had originally been built as a department store, our team redesigned the building, eliminating the need for administrative staff to be spread out across multiple buildings throughout the region.
The rehabilitation restores a former seven-story department store constructed at the turn of the 20th century.
Applying for Tax Credits to Fund the Historic Project
OSF HealthCare applied for state and federal historic tax credits to help offset the cost of the project, which required many of the building’s historic characteristics to be restored and maintained. The design team’s challenge was finding ways to uphold that character while creating a modernized space that would meet OSF’s dynamic needs. Not only did OSF aim to restore a historic icon for the city, they also hoped to stimulate additional development in downtown Peoria.
The structure was built more than 118 years ago and is iconic to the downtown area for its character, architecture, and history.
Strategies for achieving necessary benchmarks for the tax credit included incorporating tools and technologies that represent the mission and culture of the Sisters (the order of Franciscan nuns who founded the hospital and guide the mission and vision of OSF HealthCare) and OSF, such as what makes it a desirable place to work and for the building to be an icon for the city. Our design team focused on zoning public and private spaces within the building and blurring spatial boundaries to invite the community in and encourage employees to connect. Open concept stairs, collaborative team spaces, and the work areas build awareness of the activities within. Using a combination of artifacts, photos, and digital media, the entry space and lobby tell the story of the Sisters’ Mission, the purpose of the ministry, and the changing nature of healthcare.
The design team used a combination of artifacts, photos, and digital media to bring the space to life and tell the story of the Sisters' Mission.
The design creates spaces that are fit-to-purpose to address the varying needs of individuals and teams.
Fostering Collaboration and Technology
The resulting design achieves a work environment that addresses the varying needs of the individuals and teams who occupy the OSF Ministry Headquarters. All the open work areas are positioned near windows, which emphases the importance of daylight and exterior views. Furthermore, the rehabilitated building offers diverse workspaces with a focus on technology, which encourages collaboration and movement throughout the facility.
The finished building incorporates all guiding principles established for the project, one of which was to offer an updated, modernized workplace that attracts top talent from across the region and serves the community.
All the open work areas are positioned near windows which emphasizes the importance of daylight and exterior views.