BRISTOL, Tenn. -- King College has hired regional engineering and architectural firm Thompson & Litton as its building consultant to review the feasibility of using the former Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Va., in the development of an allopathic school of medicine and health sciences center.

Thompson & Litton will begin its evaluation of the five-story hospital building immediately and will be looking at adaptations of the facility for use in a medical education setting, according to the company’s vice president of architecture, William A. Thompson III.

King College President Dr. Greg Jordan emphasized that Thompson & Litton was chosen, in part, because it specializes in renovation and adaptive reuse of current facilities.

“We have also consulted with T&L for some time now on our very specific building needs for our medical education model, so this firm knows what we’re looking for,” Jordan said.

“We are delighted to be the consultant on this important project for King College,” Thompson said. “We will review all aspects of the five-story JMH facility within the 90-day time frame allocated for this study.”

On June 3, 2011, King College was presented the opportunity to explore possible uses of the old hospital facility through a donation of the facility from KVAT/Food City, which also announced its plan to build a new corporate headquarters building on the old hospital property. The old hospital was originally built in 1919 and was gradually expanded on in each ensuing decade beginning in the 1920s.

Thompson & Litton has provided engineering, architectural, surveying, planning and construction services for the past 55 years. The company employs 130 people who operate out of six regional offices and serve a five-state region.

King College announced its vision for a medical school and health sciences center in late 2008 after a feasibility study projected a dramatic drop in physician numbers in the medically underserved central Appalachian region within the coming decade.

King is also looking into best possible uses of land for the proposed school of medicine at the Stone Mill Technology and Business Park near the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center at Exit 14.

King College officials have been extensively reviewing medical education models that will appeal to future medical school students in the Southwest and Southside Virginia regions where King is committed to drawing the majority of its medical school applicants.

Located in Bristol, Tenn., King College is a private, comprehensive, master’s level college founded in the Presbyterian tradition, offering more than 80 majors, minors, concentrations and pre-professional programs.