Brown University Labor and Delivery Center at Women & Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, R.I., continues to expand its capacity to serve families with the Brown University Labor & Delivery Center. Opened in December 2024, the 18,000-square-foot single-story addition is designed to support both patient comfort and staff efficiency.
Built one level above grade over a reconstructed on-grade parking lot, the new structure connects directly to the existing hospital through designated circulation corridors.
Patient rooms, staff areas, and support spaces are arranged around a central nurses’ station to enhance visibility and workflow. Large windows bring in natural light, while finishes featuring a neutral color palette and natural wood accents add warmth to spaces.
Managing construction on active hospital site
In addition to the new construction, the project included approximately 3,000 square feet of renovations within the existing labor and delivery unit. These updates focused on reconfiguring access corridors and modifying adjacent spaces to create a seamless connection to the new wing while maintaining continuity of care.
Construction required detailed coordination with hospital leadership to maintain uninterrupted operations within the active labor and delivery unit.
Early in the project, a temporary exterior wall was constructed within three existing labor rooms to separate occupied patient spaces from the new addition as it was built. Installed in sections, the wall allowed only one labor room to be taken out of service at a time, enabling the unit to operate at near full capacity for most of the project.
Later, the affected labor rooms and connecting corridor were taken offline to renovate the entrance to the new center. Corridor construction was completed in two phases, splitting the hallway in half to preserve access to surrounding hospital areas while meeting safety and infection control requirements.
Brown University Labor and Delivery Center at Women & Infants Hospital project details
Location: Providence, R.I.
Completion date: December 2024
Owner: Care New England Health System
Total building area: 18,000 sq. ft. (new addition); 3,000 sq. ft. renovations
Total construction cost: $35.3 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $1,681
Architect: E4H Environments for Health Architecture
General contractor: Dimeo Construction Company
Engineering firms: BR+A Engineers (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection), WSP (structural), GZA (geotechnical), VHB (civil)
Builder: Dimeo
Carpet/flooring: Teknoflor, Gerflor
Ceiling/wall systems: GWB, Armstrong
Doors/locks/hardware: VT Industries Architectural Wood Doors, Schlage
Handrails/wall guards: Acrovyn
Headwalls/booms: DIRTT, Getinge
Wallcoverings: Acrovyn, Level Digital Wallcovering
Project details are provided by the design team and not vetted by Healthcare Design.
