Main Line Health Broomall
With a goal to transform a series of separate collocated practices into a unified model that embodies the Main Line Health brand, Stantec worked collaboratively to carve out a two-story lobby flanked by multi-specialty practice space with a flexible exam module. The resulting design concept established the light-filled lobby as the first point of arrival that supports quality patient care and an improved patient experience.
Nature provides inspiration for a layered design, guiding the vision of “Designing a pathway to wellness.” The revitalized space features a dynamic lobby reinforcing Main Line Health’s long presence in the community. Connecting the two levels is a new skylight with a monumental stair and an adjacent feature wall. We drew inspiration from strong, bright beams of light penetrating a canopy of trees, as well as warm light cascading through the undulating surfaces of a canyon.
The light-filled concourse adopts a hospitality feel to create a welcoming first stop for patients and families. The play of filtered light from above highlights points of entry that reinforce wayfinding and encourage the use of the daylit stair, connecting people and places.
Recalling the notion of a park, we sought to create a place that supports interaction while balancing privacy. Each entrance is paired with an information desk and care team partner to direct those arriving for appointments to check in at central registration. The patient-friendly facility allows patients to break out of the typical waiting room, relax while enjoying their surroundings, and focus on their wellness.
FIRM: Stantec, stantec.com
DESIGN TEAM: Scott Huff, principal/project manager; Jennie Hydro, senior interior designer; Jessica McNamara, interior designer; Shawn Ryan, project architect; Joshua Butz, electrical engineering lead; Amir Rastkhiz, senior mechanical engineer; Chloe Dye, lighting designer; Brian Lim, plumbing/fire protection designer
COMPLETED: April 2023
Remodel/Renovation Finalist 2017: Mary Bird Perkins Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center (Cancer Care)
Once separate entities in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (OLOLRMC) and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBPCC) partnered to offer comprehensive cancer care on one campus. In need of a fresh space that embodied this partnership and joint commitment, the firm was engaged to renovate MBPCC-OLOLRMC existing facilities.
A space that provided patients, families and caregivers a sense of ease and assurance during the difficult treatment process was envisioned; one that supported healing with light, texture and comfort, and removed unnecessary stressors for users of the space. The center was to provide a premier patient experience in an uplifting environment that incorporated evidence-based design strategies.
An assessment of existing cancer care services and in-depth analysis that mined for patient experience issues became the basis for thoughtful and deliberate design, ultimately allowing the Cancer Center to provide exceptional, coordinated care.
In our conversations with stakeholders, the team found that existing services were interspersed throughout various buildings on the campus, and that patient navigation and social services played a vital role in cancer care, but that they were not always uniform. In tracing the pathways of patients, it became clear that convenience was not a consistent theme, and that some key services were redundant and disjointed, while others were overburdened. To alleviate these inefficiencies, the firm’s program for the center proposed a centralized place for the co-location of patient services, for ease of access throughout the care continuum.
The firm’s human-centered design respects patient abilities, with a dedicated and convenient entry and discharge process that offers one way flows and decongests the facility. This entry also serves as a “porch” to the OLOLRMC campus at large, acting as a portal to a series of public pathways connecting MBPCC to other key buildings and services, simplifying the patient journey.
The inclusion of hospitality amenities supports respite and refuge, with meditation rooms, private consultation rooms, café area and lounges, and related retail services. Semi-private infusion bays feature personal televisions, space for guests, and reading lights, a direct response to patient requests for an enhanced experience.
The space that the new glass box is constructed within is bound on three sides; by an existing parking garage, the existing cancer center and the hospital, including a bridge structure above at the fifth level. Planning for the structural interventions to remove the existing curtainwall, infill the atrium space to gain additional square footage on the second floor and construct a glass box with new structural columns within this limited space was a challenge. In addition, throughout the six phases of renovations, the cancer center remained operational while increases in volumes continued. The challenges were met with precision-like planning for phased construction and use of pre-fabricated glass and steel systems for the glass box structure which was installed by a specialty contractor on the site to ensure quality and reduced construction time.
Renovation Cost (per square foot): $266
Remodel/Renovation Finalist 2017: Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (Cancer Care)
What started as a suburban office building with vast, dark floorplates is now a welcoming, light-filled, comprehensive ambulatory cancer center that provides Memorial Sloan Kettering (Middletown, N.J.) patients convenient access to excellent care, and for the first time, outpatient surgery and rehabilitation outside of Manhattan and closer to home. Views to nature abound, and biophilic design principles are integrated throughout.
An intense focus on providing an extraordinary patient experience informed the decision-making throughout the design process. The client and design team wished to create a “next generation” facility that combined signature elements of the Memorial Sloan Kettering brand with enhanced warmth and experiential design that takes its cues from the natural, visually rich surrounds of the setting.
To enhance access, usher in natural light and provide views to the outdoors, the existing office building was cut into–an intervention that also allowed the design team to create solutions for a number of structural, programmatic, and circulation challenges. A large, day-lit courtyard was created, with a series of glass-enclosed pedestrian bridges. One such bridge is the center’s main entrance, which follows the east-to-west arc of the sun to maximize daylight exposure. This provides daylight deep into the floorplate and features intuitive reception points with relatively few footsteps to clinical spaces from these points.
The interior concept is based upon a poetic interpretation of a “walk through the woods”–blending art and materials with biophilic design principles to enhance patient and caregiver experience. Patient gardens and views to the wooded surrounds are intertwined throughout treatment spaces; all configured to enhance caregiver/patient communication. An addition housing the linear accelerator infuses the space with bright, natural light from an overhead skylight.
The design team focused on areas in which patients would have the least amount of control over their experience (phlebotomy, radiation oncology, infusion), providing experiential choice wherever possible. In each of the center’s 18 private infusion therapy rooms, patient chairs face the windows, giving the patients views while providing caregivers a direct line of sight to the patient for safety. Patients can adjust the lighting and temperature within the infusion suite and can surf the web, watch television, and order food right from their infusion chairs. Lounge spaces arranged outside the private rooms offer the patient the choice of socializing or resting quietly.
Equally important is the staff workplace, intentionally designed to support communication. Conference rooms, work rooms, lockers and break space are strategically placed near a dedicated staff entry to enhance off-stage collaboration and provide respite.
“Delivering the same high caliber of care and experience to patients in their community continues to be an institution-wide focus, and MSK Monmouth is a shining example of the commitment we made 20-plus years ago,” said José Baselga, MD, PhD, MSK’s physician-in-chief and chief medical officer. “Our strong ability to offer patients a personalized treatment plan, robust and efficient testing, and compassionate care and treatment near the comfort and familiarity of their home is the experience our staff strives to provide every day.”
Renovation Cost (per square foot): Confidential, per client
Remodel/Renovation Finalist 2017: Imbert Cancer Center (Cancer Care)
Opened in October 2016, Imbert Cancer Center (Bay Shore, N.Y.) is part of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, one of the largest cancer programs in the New York metropolitan area. Imbert Cancer Center brings together experienced cancer specialists in surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, chemotherapy treatment and diagnostic and interventional radiology. The new facility builds on the cancer services Northwell Health Cancer Institute has been offering the community for years, including colorectal, gynecologic oncology, thoracic and breast care.
Northwell’s objective was to create a state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer center reinforced by contemporary aesthetics that reflect the community. The primary design inspirations came from the Bay Shore, N.Y., location, a seaside community on Long Island’s south shore. The beautiful beaches and popular sailing boat regatta views created a strong background for the color palette and material use for this project. Aesthetic details also focused on the need to create “living rooms” instead of “waiting rooms,” with hospitality aesthetics that reflect a home environment. Cancer patients actively undergoing treatment can have long treatments and periods of waiting time. The attempt to make the space appear as a home-like environment was central to the vision.
The cancer center is an adaptive reuse project utilizing a former supermarket building. To support this noble cause the design team introduced architectural materials that have high recycled content and significantly contribute to LEED initiatives. In addition, all lighting uses energy efficient LED fixtures with dimming and long life capabilities. The majority of materials are no- or low VOCs.
The lobby welcomes you with a gentle, beach inspired palette of simple architectural materials including porcelain tile, drift wood, solid surface, and paint tastefully combined to re-interpret the shapes of sails, drift wood, and fisherman’s glass floats. The curvilinear bench and concierge desk are reminiscent of the sailboats and incorporate sand stone, solid surface, and drift wood.
The lobby of the center and the other public spaces were designed as an evolving art gallery and comfortable space for community events. The center features a respite garden for patients to look at while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The center offers spaces for support groups, nutritional and genetic counseling and educational activities.
The shapes and the glass material as well as colors of the main lobby light fixtures, infusion area, and radiation oncology areas were inspired by fisherman’s glass floats. A curated artglass flock of birds appears in the lobby as if flying into the main practice suite. Other artglass features includes sea anemones along main patient corridors.
As you enter each of the departments, there are lounge areas that are beach house inspired with soft translucent drapery window treatments, beach-themed artwork, and home-like furnishings with accent pillows, lighting fixtures, nautical accessories made out of recycled glass and mother of pearl, board games and coffee table books. The textural, woven-look carpet adds to the softness and home like appeal of the space.
The greeting desks and infusion area partitions were inspired by sail shapes and the color of the water. The privacy trellises were inspired by marina walkways and the banquette seating is reminiscent of a sailboat interior design.
Renovation Cost (per square foot): $520
Remodel/Renovation Finalist 2017: Self Regional Healthcare (Public Spaces)
A series of complex renovations to Self Regional Healthcare’s (Greenwood, S.C.) existing facilities made improvements to wayfinding, operational efficiency, and patient comfort in order to accommodate evolving healthcare needs.
The welcoming new main corridor and light-filled cafeteria/servery anchor the project. The 1950s-era structure had 10-foot, 10-inch floor-to-floor heights, which challenged the design team to use low profile lighting fixtures, exposed ductwork, fabric and wood panel ceilings, graphic wall coverings, and banquette seating to help transform the original basement area into a warm and inviting dining space. Relocating the old electrical room and revising the structure in this central area allowed raised ceiling heights, skylights, and new windows into second floor spaces above, bringing light deep into the hospital interior.
Moveable glass and resin panel systems help subdivide and open up the spaces for flexible use of the dining and main corridor according to the needs of the day. The vibrant green and orange color palette along with the tree graphic help bring the outdoors into the interior dining space, which is now positioned in an easily accessible location along the main corridor. The new servery area is an appealing yet functional space for its customers.
The project also included a new support service building, relocation of many clinical and support spaces, demolition of four under-utilized floors of the original hospital, and improved staff circulation by creating a new bridge connector at the second floor. These changes all contribute to better patient, family and staff experiences while significantly reducing operational costs.
Renovation Cost (per square foot): $344 (Cost includes demolition of 4 ½ floors of original main hospital)
Remodel/Renovation Finalist 2017: The Mother Baby Center at United Hospital (Public Spaces)
The Mother Baby Center (St. Paul, Minn.) is more than just a facility and more than just a business model. It’s a promise to every patient and family, and the answer to the question, “What does every mother and baby deserve?” It includes all of the comforts of home, amenities of a 5 star hotel, positive distractions and state of the art care and technology. From first arrival to labor to departure, every step was considered and designed with patient experience in mind.
The Mother Baby Center at United Hospital is one of three within the Twin Cities. The brand for this service line, which was created by Allina Health and Children’s Minnesota, was carried through each facility while staying unique to its location and relevant to its community. Focusing on utilizing design cues to enhance the patient experience, four design elements were created to reinforce the interior and exterior architecture in every Mother Baby facility and to bring the brand experience to life: Iconic Exterior, Supergraphics, Sculptural Ribbons and Lighting.
Here we focused on the gardens of St. Paul: flowering trees were used as the supergraphics, delivering art through architecture. We took a fresh approach to the sculptural ribbons, applied in an abstract manner to represent the flower shape which in turn mimics the Mother Baby logo. The soft indirect lighting enhances the space and the patient experience, defining the mood for the facility. With this design, we created a space that mirrors the type of care Allina Health and Children’s Minnesota delivers.
The public spaces for this facility were unlike the other two centers because this was an existing facility. There were many challenges when it came to designing within the box: existing floor to floor heights, existing infrastructure and structural columns, and the fact that we needed to divide the work up into many different phases to keep the facility operational through the entire construction process.
Cost per square foot: $275
Remodel/Renovation Finalist 2017: UC Irvine Medical Center: Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center (Public Spaces)
Originally envisioned as a 12,000-square-foot interior remodel within an existing, three-story tiered building, the Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center (Orange, Calif.) is now a prominent gateway building that defines the southern edge of UC Irvine Medical Center’s campus core.
Adding much-needed additional clinical and support space, the expanded building includes a new entrance lobby, registration area, and waiting area on the first floor of the building. Previous reception and waiting space was converted into lecture and classroom space to support the teaching functions of the service line. The second floor is the new procedural hub of the department and houses both procedure and recovery space. The third floor addition and renovation provides expanded clinical functions and adds much needed staff offices and support space.
The new design of the procedure suites and prep and recovery areas provides two key benefits to staff and patients. The clinical staff benefits from the latest imaging and diagnostic technologies in the new procedure rooms, which are about 1.5 times the size and infrastructure of the previous rooms. Patients now experience complete privacy in their prep and recovery, replacing tight quarters separated only by curtains with the prior facility. Patients also benefit by the expansion of the clinic on the third floor to provide more convenient one-stop service for their doctor visits and procedures.
Throughout all phases of design, the architectural team worked closely with our client and many levels of the organization to develop a highly functional and progressive design. Through a variety of meetings and design charrettes with hospital administration, physician/clinical leadership, nursing, registration, lab, pathology, housekeeping, IT, and sterile processing, the detailed needs of the facility were determined and the design flowed from there. Patient input into the needs of the design was solicited through the physicians in clinic administration. Philanthropic and donor interactions also affected the direction and vision for the project as a world class outpatient center and teaching facility.
The biggest challenge for the project was the increase in project scope to provide a new third-floor clinic. This space required a new building structure married to a smaller existing third floor. The challenge arose from the limited budget that was approved based on a smaller scope. The physicians, however, had a grander vision. Working with their leadership, our team developed conceptual models and renderings that allowed them to find major donors and help to fully fund project.
Renovation Cost Per Square Foot: $495
Northwell Health, Imbert Cancer Center
Submitted by: EwingCole (New York)
Opened in August 2016, Imbert Cancer Center (Bayshore, N.Y.) is part of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, one of the largest cancer programs in the Long Island, N.Y., region. Imbert Cancer Center brings together experienced cancer specialists in surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, and diagnostic radiology. The new facility builds on the cancer services Northwell Health Cancer Institute has been offering the community for years, including colorectal, gynecologic oncology, thoracic, and breast care.
The cancer center is as an adaptive reuse project utilizing a former supermarket building. To support this cause the design team introduced architectural materials that have high recycled content and significantly contribute to LEED initiatives. In addition, all lighting uses energy-efficient LED fixtures with dimming and long life capabilities. The majority of materials are no or low VOCs.
The lobby of the center and the other public spaces are designed as an evolving art gallery and comfortable space for community events. The center features a respite garden for such events and also for the patients and staff use. The center offers spaces for support groups and educational activities.
Project category: Conversion
Chief administrator: Meredith Feinberg, vice president, cancer service line administration
Department of Corporate Facility Services: John Gregory, Betty Sarmiento, Ken Singson, Barry Zuckerman
Firm: EwingCole, www.ewingcole.com
Design team: EwingCole (architect, interior designer, and engineer)
Total building area (sq. ft.): 46,000
Construction cost/sq. ft.: $520
Total construction cost (excluding land): $24 million
Completed: November 2016
University of Pennsylvania Health System, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Patient Pavilion
Submitted by: EwingCole (Philadelphia)
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Philadelphia) improved and expanded its existing ambulatory and acute care programs in the short term and is planning for a long-term improvement of its facilities. The challenge was to create a new trauma center that includes upgrades to the overall design and efficiency of caring for these critically injured patients.
The space unites more than 20 medical and surgical specialists and combines new features aimed at improving patient and family comfort, with modern technologies effectively elevating the care processes and providing a better value to both patients and payers.
The exterior design creates a large ribbon of grey- and slate-colored masonry and metal panels that incorporates the building base and rises to wrap around a large surface of glass, finally screening the penthouse and the new helipad. The variegated panels break the large surface of the metal and provide visual interest and depth. The blue/grey colors of the masonry and metal panels introduce a new palette to the site. The blue/grey of the ribbon is juxtaposed to the printed terra cotta red screen on the glass surface of the building. While the metal panels and the masonry introduce a new fresh element to the site, the terra cotta print ties to the site’s brick context, creating a surprise inversion and color play.
High-contrast materials and pops of bright colors assist with patient and visitor anxiety. Studies show that spaces with bright colors and high contrast engage those occupying the space and can lower anxiety by drawing someone’s attention away from their stressors.
Locations for large-scale photography were designed into the project in waiting rooms, treatment spaces, and elevator lobbies.
Project category: New construction
Chief administrator: Alyson Cole, assistant executive director, professional services and trauma program transition director, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Firm: EwingCole, www.ewingcole.com
Design team: EwingCole (architect, interior designer, engineer, and planner)
Total building area (sq. ft.): 190,000
Construction cost/sq. ft.: $515
Total construction cost (excluding land): $98 million
Completed: January 2015
UC San Diego Health Jacobs Medical Center
Submitted by: CannonDesign (Los Angeles)
UC San Diego (UCSD) Health (La Jolla, Calif.) sought to reinvent traditional inpatient care concepts and establish a modern atmosphere that embraces the future of healthcare and the concept of patient-first care. The result is Jacobs Medical Center, a 245-bed hospital and the new centerpiece of the UCSD Health campus. Although one building, the 10-story hospital functions as three hospitals—women and infants, cancer care, and specialty surgery. Dubbed a garden hospital, the building’s organic form artistically interacts with the surrounding environment, and a number of elevated gardens bring nature up to the patient level. Located adjacent to a research facility, the hospital embraces a bench-to-bedside model that facilitates the convergence of research and clinical care.
The curvilinear nature of the exterior influences the interior. Many of the corridors replace typical right angles with curved corner conditions, allowing patient beds to effortlessly be pushed through the hallways. The hospital is easily navigable, using daylight as a tool to combat disorientation and capitalizing on exterior views to assist with wayfinding. The inclusion of floor-to-ceiling windows, artwork, and neutral colors supports cognitive and emotional health. Combining the patient experience with advanced technology, every patient room is furnished with a headwall that seamlessly combines all necessary components and equipment into one sculptural element. Each patient room also includes an iPad—equipped with a unique application that was created from the perspective of improving the experience for both patients and families—that empowers patients to customize their environments and view treatment schedules and medical records.
Project category: New construction and remodel/renovation
Chief administrator: Randy Leopold, senior director, facilities design and construction, University of California San Diego
Firm: CannonDesign, www.cannondesign.com
Design team: Mehrdad Yazdani, design principal; Craig Booth, senior project designer Nadine Quirmbach, interior architecture designer (Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign); Carlos Amato, healthcare principal; Michael Smith, project principal; William D. Hamilton, project executive; Jocelyn Stroupe, healthcare interiors lead (CannonDesign)
Total building area (sq. ft.): 509,500
Completed: October 2016