A Collaborative Approach to Designing Complex Medical Facilities

Knowing what was helpful and hurtful to medical staff influenced the entire design — such as enhanced wayfinding, bed unit flexibility, streamlined walking flow for staff, direct access to elevators and patient rooms, and the installation of equipment that would eliminate excessive noise.

Once construction was complete, this staff-informed design saved surgeons 2.5 miles of walking a day, added 22,000 hours of additional patient care and contributed more than 750 new jobs.

“The key to quality architectural design is deep, active listening,” said Partner and National Healthcare Practice Leader John Castorina, AIA, ACHA, LEED Green Associate, CLGB. “Listening leads our guiding principles, which in turn prioritizes our client’s goals.”

The University of Kansas Health System Proton Therapy Center

The University of Kansas Health System is a world-class academic medical center and destination for complex cancer care and diagnosis. The Proton Therapy Center offers the power and precision of proton therapy, the most technologically advanced form of radiation treatment, to Kansas and surrounding states — the first in a six-state region. It is currently one of less than 40 proton therapy centers in the United States.

Given the sensitivity of its radiation treatments, the Proton Therapy Center’s needs were highly complicated, which made a collaborative listening approach crucial for the project’s success. Hoefer Welker’s team, alongside Stantec, used an evidence-informed design process to collaborate with several medical providers to establish the materials needed for the project’s design. In one example, the facility’s vault around the cyclotron required six- to nine-foot-thick vault walls, 160 tons of equipment, 2,721 cubic yards of concrete and 377,500 pounds of steel rebar. Additionally, due to tight building site constraints and ongoing operations during construction, a portion of the proton center program needed to accommodate the existing radiation/oncology pavilion through a vertical expansion. Working closely with stakeholders through a translational approach allowed the design team to ensure the best possible patient experience and highly effective radiation treatment.

“People know we’re architects and designers, which is part of it — but ultimately, we’re a service provider trying to help our clients grow and continue to serve people.”

The Proton Therapy Center is scheduled to begin accepting patients in the spring of 2022. The proton center will allow cancer patients across the region to remain closer to their homes, families, and much-needed support systems while receiving comprehensive care.

“We want to create facilities that give back to the community, that are sustainable, that think about the environment,” said McCurdy. “People know we’re architects and designers, which is part of it — but ultimately, we’re a service provider trying to help our clients grow and continue to serve people.”

Midwest Transplant Network

A nonprofit organ procurement organization serving Kansas and western Missouri, Midwest Transplant Network (MTN) works with organ, eye and tissue donors, families and hospitals to ensure a seamless organ donation process.

MTN needed to renovate and add to its headquarters to perform organ procurement at its facility rather than in a hospital setting. The new Organ Recovery Suite and Donor Care Unit required top-tier healthcare technology and the means to provide the utmost respect for both the donors and their families. MTN also wanted to include new elements such as CT imaging, a physician lounge, staff amenities and a garage that could safely accommodate ambulance transport — all within a nonprofit budget.

Through close collaboration, our team maintained MTN’s project budget while providing nearly $1 million in value to the organization.

Before beginning any design work, our team thoroughly assessed MTN’s current needs and future goals through ongoing conversations with staff and stakeholders to ensure the design was tailored to the client’s needs. This process included a full assessment of MTN’s infrastructure, site limitations, resource constraints and operational considerations.

Based on this information collected from MTN, we created a design for the new facility that included the technologies and amenities needed for the most effective patient care — such as increased ICU capacity and a private waiting area that offered peace and quiet for patients’ families. Through close collaboration, our team maintained MTN’s project budget while providing nearly $1 million in value to the organization.

Experience the Benefits of Collaborative Design

As medical facilities become more complex and incorporate new technology, the demand for thoughtful, tailored design will only increase. At Hoefer Welker, we know that listening is a powerful and valuable asset for designers and that it’s the most crucial aspect in the design of complex medical facilities. 

Learn more about Hoefer Welker, and get in touch to talk about how we can help with your next healthcare project.