AHBL provided landscape design for the addition to Whidbey General Hospital, located in the tight-knit community of Coupeville, WA. The town is located within Ebey’s Landing Reserve, a National Historical Reserve and part of the National Park System. Due to the historic registration of the area, the hospital addition was under close watch from the Historic Preservation Committee as well as the town of Coupeville. This project was the first major construction project in the town in over a decade, and received input from the town’s residents, staff, mayor, the Historical Preserve, the hospital staff and Green Team, as well as the hospital’s board of directors.

Our landscape design included a planting plan for the entire campus, totaling 12 acres. Also included is a garden with healing properties located in the courtyard area of the hospital.

A primary focus of the courtyard’s design was to provide a place of restoration from stress, and have a positive influence on patients, visitors and staff. A major design element features a strolling garden that allows patients, visitors and staff an opportunity to interact with nature. This space is also accessible to the community, providing a connection to the hospital. Also included are views of the garden from each room of the addition, and each new labor and delivery room has their own private garden for viewing.

The garden’s healing properties of nature and quiet respite greatly help patients reduce stress, and promote healing. The garden includes a regionally-specific plant palette that includes mostly native, drought-tolerant (temporary irrigation only) plants that are easily maintained. The plant choice and remote location of the hospital attracts wildlife such as butterflies and birds.