FIRST LOOK: University of Vermont Medical Center’s Robert E. and Holly D. Miller Building
The University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington, Vt.) broke ground on a new $187 million inpatient bed building in June. The Robert E. and Holly D. Miller Building was approved in 2016 and is slated for completion in 2019.
The project will facilitate the medical center’s ability to ensure patient safety and quality of care, enhance the patient experience, and provide greater operational efficiencies. E4H – MorrisSwitzer Environments for Health (Boston and Williston, Vt.) has worked with the medical center for more than 25 years and is the design firm on the project.
The design process for the new Miller Building involved extensive consultation with patients, families, physicians, nurses, and facilities experts as well as community members and neighbors. The design goals of the new building are to enhance quality, privacy, and healing, while providing more room for families.
The facility will feature four inpatient floors of 32 single-occupancy rooms for a total of 128 private rooms, increasing the medical center’s private rooms from 40 to 90 percent. Each room will have a private bathroom, a medical/surgical telemetry bed, and improved monitoring capability.
Enhanced in-room technology will cut down on patient transfers, assist with infection control, and improve the patient experience by increasing privacy and reducing noise.
The Miller Building project is on target for LEED Silver certification, supporting The University of Vermont Health Network’s commitment to sustainable design and construction.