The Pediatric Emergency Department At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center was designed by Mahlum, to provide an engaging, safe environment that eases potentially traumatic experiences for young patients. A series of respite spaces, both active and quiet, provide opportunities to decompress and offer views of the gardens and surrounding community.
Photography by © Ben Benschneider
As care delivery evolves in the era of healthcare reform, the client asked the design team to create opportunities to increase value and optimize their capital, human and financial resources. As a result, medical planning focused on increasing efficiency, sharing clinical resources and integrating families into the care continuum.
Tucked among the existing hospital structures, the design of the exterior creates an easily recognizable destination for patients and families. The prominent Red Lantern is a hallmark of the campus.
Photography by © Ben Benschneider
Within the clinical core, a central care team zone co-locates physicians, nurses and mid-level providers in close proximity to patient care areas, facilitating collaboration and reducing travel distance. The team zone accommodates flexing staff levels as patient census and acuity vary.
Photography by © Ben Benschneider
From project initiation, the team worked to achieve a set of operational, patient-centered, and community-focused outcomes, as well as an improved net-to-gross benchmark. Collaboration to achieve these outcomes drove the design process, informed each decision along the way, and ensured that clinical workflow and patient well-being drove the new pediatric emergency model.
Photography by © Ben Benschneider
Integrated sustainability was another early project objective; simple strategies included daylighting, indigenous landscaping and the use of recycled materials. More complex strategies include energy reduction measures such as a heat recovery system that harvests heat from exhaust air to supplement boilers, and dedicated VFD fans that ramp up or down based on occupancy.
Photography by © Ben Benschneider
Finally, the new facility integrates the vision of the philanthropic Rypien Foundation to ensure that the patient’s perspective was always heard and respected. A major instigator for Pediatric Emergency Department At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, the Rypien Foundation remained involved throughout the design process. Their activism and involvement greatly enhanced the patient experience, driving the integration of materials, graphics, and artwork at every level. Through the foundation’s contributions and fundraising efforts, a sense of the community.
Photography by © Ben Benschneider
Project Info:
Architects: Mahlum
Location: 101 West 8th Avenue, Spokane, WA 99204, USA
Architect in Charge: Gerald (Butch) Reifert, FAIA
Project Manager: Gary Signs, AIA
Project Designer: Pierce McVey, AIA, LEED AP
Area: 28000.0 ft2
Project Year: 2013
Photographs: Ben Benschneider
Senior Project Architect: Duncan Davidson, AIA, LEED AP
Project Architect: Wes Hoffman, AIA
Interior Designer: Stacy Bender
Medical Planner: PJ Bauser
Specifications: Steve Matsudaira
Technical Support: Jacob Strobl, Susan McNabb
General Contractor: Bouten Construction Company
Landscape Architect: Environment West
Structural Engineer: Coffman Engineers
Mechanical Engineer: MW Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineer: Coffman Engineers
Civil Engineer: DCI Engineers
Lighting: Coffman Engineers
Acoustical: Greenbusch Group
Project Name: Pediatric Emergency Department At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
