Martha Jefferson Hospital of Charlottesville, Virginia was named America's Most Beautiful Hospital for 2012 by Soliant Health, a national health care staffing firm, and Armstrong Commercial Flooring played a role in that decision.

A record of nearly 170,000 votes (more than double last year’s tally), were recorded for Soliant’s 4^th annual list of the 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals in America.

The new Martha Jefferson Hospital combines state-of-the-art equipment, advanced technologies and a nurturing, friendly environment to merge the science of medicine with the art of healing. “In fact,” says David Alexander, president of Soliant Health, “more than a thousand different studies show that when a patient feels more comfortable and less stressed, the healing process is faster. Therefore, it was extremely salient that the hospital has the right look and feel to inspire comfort and healing.” 

“We couldn't be happier for our visionary clients who partnered with us to design spaces that are patient and staff-focused, creating a truly healing experience,” said Jessica Dellenbach, associate principal/interior designer, Kahler Slater. 

When it came to the flooring, the architects knew right away which product would inspire the comfort levels and healing-centric design they needed.

“Armstrong was the original specified product,” says Kelly Stueber, associate/interior designer, Kahler Slater.“We were looking for a product that offered warmth, variety and sustainable aspects and linoleum was a win.”

According to Dellenbach, the client approved the use of Armstrong’s Linorette line of commercial linoleum flooring after testing mock-ups and reviewing three dimensional models so they could get a comfort for what the product would look like in long corridor applications.  Armstrong’s linoleum also was chosen to meet one of the main project drivers. “We wanted to choose sustainable, responsible products wherever possible,” says Dellenbach. “Linorette had the visual, sustainability and ease of cleaning that the client was looking for.” 

Armstrong uses natural ingredients such as linseed oil, wood powder and jute backing that were used in the early 1900s to manufacture its linoleum. The formula is comprised of 35% pre-consumer recycled content and 36% rapidly renewable raw materials. The Linorette line of commercial linoleum flooring features a classic, modern design in a full spectrum of 12 saturated colors. Armstrong linoleum combines its beautiful visuals with the superior performance of its exclusive NATURCote UV-cured coating. NATURCote protects the floor from scratches and scuffs and reduces the time, chemicals and labor needed for routine maintenance.

Armstrong was selected not only for its unsurpassed line of linoleum, but also for the company’s fantastic combination of product knowledge and client support. “Armstrong was selected because of our exposure to the company and the great products that are offered, but also because of its strong sales representation that provided the knowledge we needed to generate a successful specification.  Our questions were always answered and the mock-up material was provided with no questions asked,” explains Stueber.

Martha Jefferson Hospital, a 108-year-old community hospital, and known for achieving #1 in the country for patient satisfaction as measured by Press Ganey, was destined to outgrow its downtown location as the city rapidly grew up around it. The decision was made to relocate the entire facility to a beautiful 88-acre campus just outside of town and within sight of Jefferson’s historic Monticello.

The replacement hospital itself is designed to provide a soothing transition into a health care experience. A scenic landscaped drive from the street to the front door helps patients and their families leave their busy, everyday lives behind and begin their healing in a bucolic setting that takes full advantage of the same views that inspired Thomas Jefferson almost 300 years ago. Evidence-based design and a focus on patient and staff safety have been integrated into the collaborative design process. The new campus has been designed to allow for flexible expansion and efficient delivery of services, organized into centers of excellence. The long term master plan includes 1.3 million square feet and 448 inpatient beds, yet is designed with human scale in mind, to feel comforting and welcoming.

Jim Haden, President of Martha Jefferson Hospital explains what the team was aspiring toward by taking on the massive endeavor of building a replacement hospital: "From the very beginning of the design process, our aim has been to provide our patients, visitors and staff with a comfortable, pleasant environment. We believe that such an environment improves their overall experience and patient outcomes. Ultimately, we wanted the facility itself to reflect our vision to set the standard for clinical quality and personalized healthcare services." 

With a first-rate design team and Armstrong’s Linorette line of products, the new Martha Jefferson Hospital does just that.