Cox wellness center to provide continuum of health care

The Jane A. & Kenneth E. Meyer Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation is well under way and on schedule, according to Tim Flavin, president of Wirt Construction Company, general contractor for the project.

"The building will be eye-catching and sets a tone for future expansion," Flavin said.

The project is scheduled to be completed in summer 2003, said Ron Prenger, vice president of clinical services and administrator for Cox Walnut Lawn. He hopes the project is under cover by winter to prevent any weather-related work delays. The 90,000-square-foot structure will cost approximately $11.4 million.

Jane Meyer, who died Feb. 1, and her husband Kenneth Meyer were major contributors to the project.

The details

The facility will contain an orthopedic therapy gym, therapy pool, lap pool, sports gym, racquetball court, patient treatment areas, kids' gym, conference center, locker rooms and deli.

Membership will be available to the general public, Prenger said.

The hospital's strategic plan is to provide a center to concentrate on wellness, nutrition and general health, Prenger said. The facility will allow for continuum of care.

"Wellness and fitness can be combined with traditional medicine for people who have health problems," he said.

On the prevention side, with obesity, diabetes and cardiac diseases on the rise, the center can provide intervention before health care is needed, Prenger said.

Project research

The building was designed to fit with the Cox Health Systems campus, according to Geoffrey Butler, architect with Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. The Butler group worked closely with the architectural firm of Browning, Day, Mullins, Dierdorf Inc. from Indianapolis.

"This is going to be a world-class facility," Butler said. "It is a great contribution Cox has to offer the community."

The brick on the structure matches the brick on the adjacent Cox Walnut Lawn facility and features huge glass walls to accent the exterior, Flavin said. The National Avenue entrance is being widened and a large parking area will be adjacent to the building.

The interior has a barrel-vault ceiling with exposed laminated wood beams, Flavin said.

Cox officials researched similar facilities while planning the project. A research visit to Indiana-polis brought them in contact with the Browning group, which specializes in this type of structure.

Butler said he has benefited from their knowledge.

"We're used to large projects and these guys have the expertise with this type of building," he said.

Communication has been no problem between the firms. They send plans via the Internet, reducing the need for face-to-face meetings, Butler said.

"We don't lose any time with collaborations," he said.