When Jim Schroeder, Director of Architectural Services at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa began developing a new nuclear medicine facility in the hospital’s cardiac unit he brought nature into the project. Studies that he’d read indicated that bringing natural elements – finishes, textures, colors and sounds – into the healing environment increases the ease and relaxation of patients. “When you come into a cardiac unit there are a lot of fears about what can happen to you,” points out Schroeder. “Clearly, bringing nature into the environment would help create a relaxing ambience for people seeking our services.”

In seeking ways to bring the sky into the facility, Schroeder came across The Sky Factory’s products — SkyCeilings and Luminous Virtual Windows. He felt that The Sky Factory offered the largest range of options.

“The Sky Factory’s products bring the constant beauty of the natural elements, the perfect elements of the bright sun and the colorful leaves to us. They provide patients with a relaxing and beautiful environment, independent of what Mother Nature is actually doing outside,” Schroeder said. “The SkyCeiling provides us with sunshine 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It looks so real that it’s hard to believe. I think if you spent awhile with it, you’d walk out in the middle of the night and get a shock because it’s dark outside.”

Photographs of the SkyCeiling in the new facility were published in the local newspaper soon after the facility opened. Friends of Schroeder’s commented that the photographer took the photos on a perfect day, judging by the view through the skylight. He let them know that the “skylight” was actually a photograph, part of the SkyCeiling installation, which cleared up the issue for one friend of how the tree in the image got into the upper story of the enclosed building.

Schroeder comments on the quality of The Sky Factory’s products and the responsive service. “We didn’t know what to expect with this new vendor, but the service and follow-up were great. Our experience has been very positive, I’d most definitely recommend The Sky Factory to others, and, in fact, I have.”



This Installation Features:
The Luminous Rectilinear SkyCeiling^TM
Single Luminous Virtual Window^TM