Case Study: Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Tower Addition

Award-Winning Performance, Precision, and Design with EIFS

When healthcare systems expand, they face a unique challenge: how to build forward without losing connection to what already exists. The Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Tower Addition in Marietta, Georgia, is a powerful example of how thoughtful design, advanced façade systems, and strong collaboration can achieve exactly that—and more.
Recognized as an EIFS Excellence Award winner, this project showcases how modern building envelope technology can deliver exceptional performance while blending seamlessly into an established campus.

Project Overview

Project Name: Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Tower Addition
Location: Marietta, GA
Size: 300,000+ sq. ft. expansion (100,000 sq. ft. EIFS scope)
Height: 9 stories
Owner: Wellstar Health System
Architect: HKS (Architect of Record: CDH Partners)
Contractor (EIFS): Hemma Elevations
Manufacturer: Master Wall®, Inc.

Designed as a 263-bed expansion, the tower delivers both increased capacity and an enhanced patient experience—while meeting the strict demands of healthcare construction.

The Challenge: Blend Innovation with Tradition

The design brief was clear—but far from simple:

Create a modern, high-performance hospital tower
Maintain visual continuity with an existing campus dominated by full-depth brick construction
Meet strict fire, energy, and moisture management standards
Minimize disruption to an actively operating hospital

Achieving all of this required more than just a façade—it required a solution that balanced aesthetics, performance, and constructability.

The Solution: Prefabricated EIFS with Advanced Design Capabilities

To meet these challenges, the project team selected a prefabricated EIFS system with mineral wool continuous insulation.

Key System Advantages

High thermal performance (R-8.4 to R-16.8 depending on thickness)
Continuous insulation to reduce thermal bridging
Enhanced fire resistance with noncombustible mineral wool
Superior moisture management through integrated detailing
Prefabricated panels for quality control and faster installation

Offsite fabrication allowed the team to maintain tight tolerances and deliver a consistent, high-quality façade while reducing onsite labor and minimizing disruptions to hospital operations.

A Defining Feature: The EIFS “Brick” That Isn’t Brick

One of the most remarkable aspects of this project is its custom stencil brick finish, designed to replicate the look of traditional masonry.
The stakes were high—the new tower sits prominently on campus and needed to seamlessly match the surrounding buildings. Multiple rounds of sampling were required to dial in the perfect:

Texture
Color
Pattern

The result? A near-perfect match.

“Several rounds of samples yielded one heck of a match… to see the sample match built-condition was a relief and extremely rewarding.”
— Dallas Leitner, Project Architect

The outcome was so convincing that even trained professionals were surprised:

“He was astonished EIFS brick was, in fact, not true brick. Even our trained eyes can be fooled.”

This level of realism highlights the design flexibility and precision that modern EIFS systems can achieve—especially when paired with expert craftsmanship.

Innovation Through Prefabrication

Beyond aesthetics, innovation played a central role in execution.
The project utilized offsite-prefabricated EIFS panels, allowing for:

Accelerated construction timelines
Improved quality control
Reduced site disruption
Precise detailing and joint alignment

In a healthcare environment where downtime is not an option, this approach proved invaluable.

Performance That Supports Long-Term Value

In addition to visual success, the building envelope delivers measurable performance benefits:

Energy Efficiency: Continuous insulation reduces heat loss and contributes to LEED® Silver goals
Durability: Resistant to cracking, fading, and moisture intrusion
Low Maintenance: Reduces lifecycle costs for a 24/7 facility
Fire Safety: Mineral wool enhances protection in a high-occupancy environment

Together, these elements create a façade that is not only beautiful but built for the long term.

Collaboration: The Key to Success

Projects like this don’t succeed on materials alone—they require strong partnerships.
Despite the complexity of the design—including unique details, deflection joints, and precise reveals—the project team worked through challenges together.

“It was a great working relationship… contractor and your team worked harmoniously to resolve the conditions resulting in the beauty that is the building today.”
— Dallas Leitner

This collaboration ensured that both design intent and construction realities were aligned every step of the way.

The Result: A New Standard in Healthcare Façade Design

The Wellstar Kennestone Tower Addition demonstrates what’s possible when innovation, craftsmanship, and collaboration come together.

A modern tower that feels fully integrated with its surroundings
A façade that delivers high performance without compromise
A project that proves EIFS can achieve both beauty and technical excellence

It’s no surprise this project earned recognition from EIMA—it stands as a benchmark for how façade systems can elevate healthcare design.

Looking Ahead

As healthcare facilities continue to evolve, projects like Wellstar Kennestone show that building envelopes can do far more than enclose a structure—they can tell a story, solve complex challenges, and deliver lasting value.
And perhaps most importantly, they remind us that with the right team and the right system:
You don’t have to choose between performance and aesthetics—you can achieve both.