PARS Brain & Spine Institute

PARS Neurological Associates of Parkersburg, WV had a dream of bringing together a facility to house all disciplines surrounding treatement and care of neurological disorders.  This vision and conceptual plan led way to the purchase of over 3 acres of land in downtown Parkersburg, WV.  After an initial interview, Pickering Associates was chosen out of three other firms, and commenced preliminary design and site development.

The initial concept drawing and end result were very close in form and function.  The current building, now called the PARS Brain and Spine Institute, is home to a Physical Therapy outpatient rehabilitation with an exercise gym, a Pharmacy, a world renowned Orthotics practice with its own manufacturing facility for prosthetics, a pain clinic, the owners' neurosurgery offices, a blood drawing lab and finally, a restaurant with attached dining auditorium for special events.

The building site had many challenges - most notably was the overwhelming presence of groundwater requiring massive efforts to dewater the site during construction.  The final design of the site involved convenient parking and access from both roadways, Murdoch and Garfield Avenues.  Another prominent feature of the site was a 300 ft. curved terraced segmental retaining wall following the building's foot print.  Our structural engineers chose to go with deep foundations, auger cast piles for the foundation and structural steel to accommodate the irregular shape of the building and owner's requirement for wide open spaces and over 10 foot ceiling heights in the gym and auditorium.

The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design was challenging and required a deep understanding of the various tenants.  Our design had to be sensitive to all the different uses and tenant functions ranging from a 60 seat auditorium to a manufacturing area.  The final part of our contract was to oversee construction on a daily basis and commission the building for the owners.  This project was a great success.