Design Architect:

Rollie Alexander, AIA

Associate Architect or Firm:

Key Project Staff Members:
Doro Federis, AIA, Alexander + Hibbs, AIA, INC.
Todd Bentley, Assoc. AIA, Alexander + Hibbs, AIA,INC.
Shelley Iger Sivak Alexander + Hibbs, AIA, INC.

Landscape Architect:

None

Owner / Developer:

Orange Coast Medical Center
Memorial Health

Project Data:

Completion Date:     2/21/2020

Square Footage:      13150

Building Use:           Acute Care Hospital, Emergency Department

Project Description:

It is difficult to appreciate the challenges of an acute care hospital remodel/expansion construction project, especially a project that greatly impacts emergency department operations.

This project had a challenging program to transform the existing emergency department by increasing the size, efficiency, and operations of a 1980’s era emergency department that was extremely undersized. The challenges include:

 Continuous operation of the department
 City restrictions for expansion size
 Foundation design/constructability
 Fire department access clearance

In short, after implementing a new structural foundation system type with the enforcing agency (OSHPD), maximizing the allowable footprint and coordinating a construction phasing plan that kept maximum operational capacity, the end result is a thoroughly modernized and expanded emergency department that grew from a 12-bed, mostly open bay department to a 26-bed, mostly private unit that better serves the community with a bright, efficient floor plan that meets the heavy demands of emergency use.

This project provides improved circulation, separation of ambulatory and non-ambulatory arriving patients, increased privacy, and dignity as well as increased opportunity to separate and isolate patients as their needs and the safety of the frontline workers dictate.

The foremost challenge was to maintain all existing emergency department functions while construction/expansion took place without compromising a high level of service required for hospitals.

While these types of projects may not be glamorous, the architect’s solutions to many key issues (phasing, systems integration) must provide an uninterrupted continuity of medical service within a cohesive project. The project included a 4,980 S.F. addition and remodel of 8,170 S.F.

Framework for Design Excellence: Design for Wellness

This project encompasses measures of the Design for Wellness category of the Framework For Design Excellence, not just because the project is within the confines of an acute care hospital, but because a focus topic of dignity that leads to happiness for people who enter the facility in distressed situations. The new design eliminated older concepts of open multi-bed treatment spaces and replaced them with single-bed enclosed rooms that promote privacy to help foster dignity for patients that are in physical/mental comprised states. Privacy and comfort in stressful situations lead to positive outcomes for patients, families and the medical staff serving them. Traditionally medical treatment areas do not provide natural light due to the medical functions that are required. However, this project took advantage of providing daylight where it could, be it in high windows behind the treatment room headwalls, translucent glazing where appropriate and sky lighting over staff work centers. We also created a small outdoor space for the staff for those who may need to take a deep breath of fresh air.

Promoting privacy and simple circulation patterns provides less chaos in a stressful environment which leads toward positive outcomes for staff and patients which is a desired trait for wellness.