Healthcare: Spaces Designed for Healing

HEALTHCARE SPACES DESIGNED FOR HEALING

This three-floor, 108-bed inpatient tower expansion was built over an existing surgical pavilion. The patient-centered design includes large windows for natural light and views and separate caregiver and family spaces with sleeper sofas. A spacious family lounge also captures expansive views to reduce stress and create a more welcoming environment.

To make it easier for recovering patients to exercise, the support core minimizes openings from the corridor to maintain longer expanse of handrail for patients to use while walking, and ‘park benches’ located off the corridor allow patients to sit and rest after walking instead of having to return directly to the room.

The design also focuses on efficiency for the healthcare providers. Three nurse stations per floor divide each floor into “neighborhoods” that allow shorter walking distances, better visual control, and easy access to support spaces. Alcoves at each patient room provide charting space and include a window with integral blinds so the nurses can check on patients without entering the room.

For efficiency, economy, and ease of installations, standardized bathroom “pods” were manufactured offsite and placed into the patient rooms nearly complete.

NEW HANOVER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER INPATIENT TOWER ADDITION WILMINGTON, NC

The concept of patient-centered care drove the entire design process for this pediatric ambulatory center, informing decisions from site selection through the final finishes. This bright, welcoming facility reduces the stress associated with a clinical visit while paving the way for new models of healthcare delivery. On the exterior, a contemporary “sail” of curved curtainwall welcomes staff, patients, and families and references both MUSC’s logo and Charleston’s history as a port city. The interior celebrates the local scenery with nods to the area’s industrial ports and the river.

Flexible, multifunctional spaces were a primary design goal. Strategies included induction rooms outside of the operating room to maximize through-put while reducing stress for patients. An orthopedic clinic transitions to an urgent care in the evening, while standardized exam pods allow teams of specialists to rotate through the clinic for flexible scheduling. To best support the staff and physicians, flexible and unassigned workspaces boost communication and support an authentic collaborative care approach.

MUSC CHILDREN’S HEALTH R. KEITH SUMMEY MEDICAL PAVILION NORTH CHARLESTON, SC

The existing Zimmer Cancer Center was created in the early 1990s and occupies approximately 25,000 SF. To improve care to patients, a local oncology practice merged their services with the hospital-based comprehensive cancer center.

The expansion and renovation accommodates the increased demand and provides efficiency for staff and comfort for patients and families.

This 51,100 SF project expands the existing chemo treatment area to include four private treatment rooms and 46 open treatment areas.

Radiation Oncology has undergone a finishes upgrade in the same location. Additional renovations include adding a six exam- room pod to medical oncology, expanding the pharmacy and phlebotomy space, and providing associated support spaces. An addition to the building provides a new entrance and identity for the cancer center. The new lobby, registration function and patient inspiration area provide comfort and resources which were not provided in the existing center.

ZIMMER CANCER CENTER WILMINGTON, NC

The new Cardiology Center for NHRMC consolidates multiple offices and departments to provide improved outpatient services. This 3-story, 63,000 SF medical office building is sited on hospital-owned land near the main NHRMC campus. The new location is more convenient for users and helps decrease congestion on the main campus.

The ground floor of the new facility consolidates three existing medical practice facilities into one clinical space. Upper floors provide space for cardiac imaging (stress testing, nuclear imaging, etc.), a pacemaker lab, office space, and a full cardiac rehab area with walking track, education counseling rooms, central registration, and education spaces.

This project embraces several of the emerging trend in medical office building development including using an open office concept for physicians with dedicated “quiet� areas for private phone calls in order to help reduce space allotted for non- revenue generating activities and maximize the space associated with patient care. The rehab gym, Healthy Juice Bar, and educational facilities are used by multiple user groups.

NEW HANOVER REGIONAL MEDICAL CARDIOLOGY CENTER WILMINGTON, NC

This massive 525,000 SF hospital features a range of facilities designed to provide state-of-the-art care in a welcoming setting.

The project includes a 156-inpatient bed tower with 124 surgical beds and 32 critical care beds, and a 220,000 SF technology block connecting to the bed tower with a central atrium. A 42,000 SF heart center houses 4 cath labs, 2 EP labs, a stereotaxis room, a dedicated chest pain center, and an outpatient diagnostic clinic. A 41,500 SF surgical department contains 9 conventional suites, 4 CTORs, 4 general ORs, and a vascular OR. The project also includes a 16,000 SF interventional radiology suite, a 20,000 SF diagnostic radiology suite, and a 30,500 SF digestive disease center with 9 endoscopy units, 2 motility rooms, a dedicated ambulatory care clinic, and an ICU. Each room is equipped with a dual-arm boom to allow the care team maximum flexibility and mobility.

During construction the building’s local server room was upgraded to provide a full data center, supporting the telecom needs of this building and future phases. The design provides significant surge protection, parallel redundant UPS systems, and local redundant Liebert environmental conditioning units with 60 tons of cooling capacity, all on a 12� raised-access floor for increased flexibility for future expansion. The project also includes a 1,500-car parking structure, a central energy plant, assorted campus roadwork, infrastructure, and landscape improvements. LS3P was the Architect of Record in association with NBBJ as Lead Design Architect.

MUSC ASHLEY RIVER TOWER CHARLESTON, SC

The renovation project for a 1980’s era medical office building brought the 46,900 SF facility up to UNCHC standards, local code requirements, and ADA requirements. The design relocates building entries to prominent exterior locations, which provides additional program space in the interior. The project demolished a threestory atrium, creating additional usable square footage. The project also includes a 3,500 SF addition which could add clinical space.

UNC CHILDREN’S RALEIGH RALEIGH, NC

This 200,000 SF women’s and children’s pavilion is designed with a distinctive community identity in mind. The pavilion houses labor and delivery recovery rooms, C-section rooms, postpartum beds, high-risk ante-partum beds, a neonatal ICU, a pediatric ICU, pediatric transitional care, pediatric beds, and GYN/Oncology beds. The new facility allowed the client to relocate a number of existing beds in the tower, making room for them to renovate the 220,000 SF, 9-story space and significantly increase the overall number of private rooms at the facility.

LS3P is the Associate Design Architect on this project, with HDR as the Architect of Record.

NEW HANOVER WOMEN & CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL WILMINGTON, NC

The SECU Hospice House of Brunswick provides patients a comfortable and dignified place for end-of-life care in a warm, familiar setting. The owner requested that the facility have a “coastal farmhouse� feel, and designers incorporated simple and elegant materials which recall vernacular rural forms.

The 13,400 SF facility, owned by the Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter, includes 7 bedrooms, a family kitchen and dining room, small family gathering spaces, and medical and administrative support spaces.

Each patient room has a private outdoor patio with a covered porch, allowing outdoor use in various weather conditions. The design accommodates the future expansion of 4 additional bedrooms and a chapel.

LS3P also assisted with site selection, programming, preliminary design and cost analysis, and collaborated with landscape architect H. Burkert & Co. to develop a master plan which carefully integrates public and private spaces and views to nature.

SECU HOSPICE HOUSE OF BRUNSWICK BOLIVIA, NC

This project includes the design of 150,000 SF of medical office buildings with parking decks for 700 cars, which share the site with a continuing care retirement community, located in Cary, North Carolina.

LS3P’s services include programming and design for the buildings and interior.

The program includes spaces for Orthopaedics, ENT, Urology, General & Peds Surgery, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Primary Care, Cardiology, Timeshare, Pediatrics/Peds GI/Peds Endo, OB/GYN, Urgent Care, also Imaging and Cardiology Testing.

HEALTHPARK AT KILDAIRE MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDINGS

CARY, NC

This 3,100 SF dental office blends elements of residential and commercial architecture to create a welcoming environment for anxious patients.

To design a space that feels safe, comfortable, and calming, the design team avoided typical clinical materials and details, instead opting for a warm, human-scale materials palette of stone, timber, metal, and glass. Large windows provide natural light and comforting views to the outdoors from the lobby and treatment spaces, while elements such as intricate detailing on the wood eaves, rain chains, and gables reference familiar residential forms.

The interior design complements the rustic exterior materials with a gently curved stone reception desk. A relaxing neutral color palette, art work, and visual connections to the outdoors all contribute to a soothing atmosphere.

KEENAN SMITH DENTISTRY GREENVILLE, SC

The Wesley Commons Continuing Care Retirement Community offers the best of small-town living with ready access to city amenities, with a range of services tailored to the needs of each resident. Amenities include a relaxing lifestyle, outdoor activities, cultural attractions, and a wide variety of social activities and leisure options.

This 3-part project for this senior living campus is comprised of an addition to the existing assisted living and memory care facility, a renovation to the kitchen and dining areas of the facility’s Commons Building and a new 50,600 SF skilled nursing facility. The new single-story skilled nursing facility will provide 80 beds, including 22 private rooms, 40 private rooms with shared bathrooms, and 18 private rehabilitation rooms. In the Commons Building, the upgraded dining venues include improvements to the independent living area’s commercial kitchen, a remodel of multiple dining spaces, a new outdoor dining patio, miscellaneous interior renovations, and site improvements.

The new wing provides 12 new assisted living beds, 2 additional memory care units, and support space.

WESLEY COMMONS GREENVILLE, SC

This hybrid fitness and parking structure for a growing corporate financial campus celebrates a unified aesthetic and a contemporary materials palette of wood, steel, and glass. The south side of the building provides 600 spaces of parking and connections to the surrounding community, while the linear bar to the north of the building connects with the pedestrian-oriented campus with expansive views to the natural site.

The fitness component of the program laminates a usable, active façade on the parking structure and provides an attractive visual buffer from the adjacent campus buildings. In keeping with the client’s commitment to providing world-class workspaces for its employees, the 18,000 SF fitness space features yoga, group, and cardio studios; fitness equipment; a clinic space operated by a local healthcare partner; rooftop deck; and outdoor exercise spaces in an expansive, open environment.

LIVE OAK BANK FITPARK WILMINGTON, NC

This 5,300 SF addition provides a formal chapel adjacent to Pitt County Memorial Hospital’s main entrance for up to 150 occupants. The building includes 2 small meditation rooms for private reflection, offices, sacristy space for hospital spiritual staff, and related support spaces. In response to its constrained site, the linear building is oriented parallel to the patient tower. An interior courtyard is defined by the space between the two structures. The building is bisected by the primary circulation from the hospital, separating the sacred spaces to the south from the utilitarian spaces to the north.

The design incorporates the natural elements of water, earth, and sky to create a non-denominational spiritual space. The view through a floor-to-ceiling glass wall at the head of the room features a specimen tree as the focal point, with a reflection pool in the foreground and the sky in the background. One long wall includes 6 vertical windows made of translucent Tiffany confetti glass, which modulates and enhances the natural light entering the space while obscuring views to a parking lot.

PITT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CHAPEL GREENVILLE, NC

After a comprehensive masterplanning, visioning, programming and design effort, this new 400,000 SF Liberty Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Mount Pleasant, SC is open. This development offers age-restricted lifestyle housing with 250+ units through full skilled nursing. The design features four levels of independent residential living units, three levels of licensed bed units, and a full-service amenities package. The site has an indoor pool, spa, fitness and exercise area; other amenities include a common living room and library, card room, billiards room, arts room, media room, and four dining venues in the independent living spaces.

The healthcare wing houses independent dining rooms and service kitchens, activity areas, private exterior courtyard space, and a full OT/PT clinic.

AUTUMN HALL AT CAROLINA BAY CCRC WILMINGTON, NC

During Hurricane Florence, Wilmington was isolated from surrounding areas for over a week. With the city effectively an island due to flooding, the only way out was by boat or helicopter.

In the wake of this disaster, an in-depth study on resilient hospital design sought to better understand inherent challenges and opportunities and to explore innovative concepts to inform future design and construction.

Strategies for hardening the structure and maintaining emergency access in severe weather included perforated metal panels, which protect the building from projectiles up to 200 MPH while allowing filtered natural light into the patient spaces; nonessential spaces positioned at lower levels with patient floors elevated above potential flood levels; a rooftop solar array which allows the building to operate if the power grid goes down; three entry points at ground level, the second-story bridge, and the helipad; and greatly reduced energy loads, which allow the building to operate much longer on solar power than a typical hospital could. High performance, right-sized mechanical systems are located on a protected floor instead of exposed on a rooftop.

The resulting concept allows 50% more natural light and reduces energy use by 50% over a typical hospital design.

This holistic approach to resilient design creates the potential for better places for healing, safer access during disasters, and better building performance both in significant weather events and for year-round use.

HURRICANE RESILIENT HOSPITAL

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