Orthopedic Associates of Hartford unveils plans for 45,000-sf surgical center

The Orthopedic Associates of Hartford (OAH) recently announced plans for a 45,000-sf outpatient surgical center. Surgeons in the facility will perform shoulder, knee, and hip replacements; spine surgery; shoulder and knee arthroscopy; hand, wrist, elbow, foot, and ankle surgery; and interventional pain procedures to relieve pain and restore function.

The new center will replace the existing 15-year-old OAH surgical center. The new location is 40% larger and will allow surgeons to handle over 100 cases a day and, at capacity, up to 15,000 cases per year.

Designed by MBH ARCHITECTURE, the surgical center will include seven operating rooms and one procedure room. Each operating room is over 600 sf to accommodate the latest technology and robotic systems and to provide surgeons with more room to comfortably operate. These rooms feature the most advanced sterilization systems on the market. On the lower level there are approximately 25 rooms for doctors to see patients and a full service physical therapy center. Patients will have the ability to stay for up to 23 hours.

Floor-to-ceiling windows, stone walls, and soothing colors were used to increase patient comfort. Centria panels on the building’s exterior have built-in insulation and water drainage systems to help improve the building’s efficiency.

The facility is slated for a January 7, 2019 completion date with an official ribbon cutting ceremony in February.

Rural hospitals present unique opportunities and challenges for healthcare facility operators. Oftentimes, the infrastructure and building systems have not been updated for years and require significant improvements in order to meet today’s modern medical demands. Additionally, as these smaller, more remote hospitals are acquired by larger regional and national healthcare systems, the first step by new ownership is often to update and rehabilitate the building. But how can this be done thoughtfully, economically, and efficiently in ways that allow the engineering and facility staff to adapt to the changes? And how can the updates accurately reflect the specific needs of rural communities and the afflictions with which these areas most commonly face?

Healthcare Facilities | Dec 7, 2021

Wheeler Kearns Architects completes Howard Brown Health’s Broadway Youth Center in Chicago

The new facility will provide medical and social service programs to LGBTQI+ youth.

Healthcare Facilities | Nov 23, 2021

Why vertical hospitals might be the next frontier in healthcare design

In this article, we’ll explore the opportunities and challenges of high-rise hospital design, as well as the main ideas and themes we considered when designing the new medical facility for the heart of London.

Healthcare Facilities | Nov 12, 2021

Centro Hospitalario Serena Del Mar is Safdie Architects’ first project in Latin America

The hospital project is characterized by its connectivity to nature.

Healthcare Facilities | Nov 2, 2021

Key design considerations for designing the smart patient room

The complete patient experience encompasses the journey to the hospital, the care experience, and the trip back home. All these touchpoints come with an expectation.

Pictured: Boulder Community Health’s West Medical Building, Lafayette, Colo. Photo: 2020 Caleb Tkach

Cladding and Facade Systems | Oct 26, 2021

14 projects recognized by DOE for high-performance building envelope design

The inaugural class of DOE’s Better Buildings Building Envelope Campaign includes a medical office building that uses hybrid vacuum-insulated glass and a net-zero concrete-and-timber community center.