Project Data:

Firm Name:              SmithGroup

Completion Date:     10/6/2017

Square Footage:      107000

Building Use:           Acute Care Hospital/Medical Center

Location:                 6640 Alton Parkway, Irvine, California 92618

Project Description:

Kaiser Permanente's Irvine Medical Center had begun outgrowing its space and need to build out the remainder of their existing center. The same firm who designed its original facility was also selected to design the build-out of 91,000 sf on two of its shelled floors. This major expansion not only doubles the patient bed capacity by adding 96 medical-surgical beds, but it sets a new standard for future renovations.

As in line with Kaiser Permanente standards, the facility's THE design guidelines, as well as the design of the existing template, set clear parameters as to the planning and design of the build-out spaces. As a team, Kaiser and the design team saw the unique opportunity to revisit the interior design of the facility and come up with a new standard that balances the goals of maintaining equity in design with the other floors, as well as updating the look and feel to cater to a more hospitality-oriented healing environment. To accomplish this, darker wood, linoleum flooring, and larger, back-lit nature images create a more sophisticated, refined design aesthetic. In totality, this renovation sets the tone for future updates moving forward in this template facility.

Given the rapid technological changes and standards of care within the last decade, the design team was tasked with updating the facility to match the changing needs of healthcare. The caregiver stations were in “fortress-like” configurations that discouraged interactions between patients and staff. A new open furniture concept broke down those barriers, fostering better connection between caregivers and receivers.
Dispersed evenly throughout the floors, these stations allow for agile working environments for nurses, and allow those in need of their expertise a chance to easily access it. The open concept serves as a mechanism of ease, furthering the overall concept of a warm, hospitality aesthetic as a solution to the previous bureaucratic layout of the hospital.

Beyond that of the nursing stations, the overall design allows for enhanced flexibility to accommodate changing practices and technologies—again, working to set the tone for any future renovations. Private patient rooms house acoustics to reduce noise, as well as warm colors with natural light enhance comfort and healing in every patient room. In line with the hospitality nature, the project included the addition of pullout beds for overnight guests, working to create a family-friendly environment. From a technological standpoint, the interiors were designed to be flexible to keep pace with technology and medical advances. This was accomplished through modular furniture solutions and not designing to accommodate specific technologies or equipment.

C.O.T.E. | Committee on the Environment

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