"By then, we knew we were good," Johnson says.

In all, design work required eight months to complete, during which each glazed member was assigned a specific location as well as name and number to ensure it assumed its designated place in its designated form, Allison says.

Fabrication required an additional six months, with finished brick placed face down in forms prior to pours, circumstances that "made it difficult to tell whether we'd achieved what we hoped to until panels were popped from their formwork," Johnson says.

As crews began placing panels on site, the facade became an object of interest to hospital staff and local residents alike. "Even then, there was skepticism," says Bagby. "It wasn't until crews began installing low-iron glazing that skeptics began to appreciate the juxtaposition of reflected trees and sky and brickwork, or the changing color of brick in accordance with quality of light, time of day and change of season."

Mercy Health - West hospital, Cincinnati

Key Players

Owner Mercy Health Partners, Cincinnati

CM Turner Construction Co., Cincinnati

Designer AECOM With Mic Johnson, Lead Designer, Minneapolis; Champlin Architecture, Cincinnati