The Outpatient Revolution: Why Demand for Flexible Facilities Continues to Grow
In a recent HCO News feature, Patrick McCurdy and Travis Leissner explore how healthcare delivery is rapidly evolving toward accessible, efficient...
1 min read
![]()
An Award of Merit has been given to architecture firm Hoefer Welker for its innovative and sustainable work on the Saint Luke’s Multispecialty Clinic – Blue Springs, Missouri. Hoefer Welker was awarded the 2019 United States Green Building Council (USGBC) West North Central (WNC) Leadership Awards in the “Innovative Design, New Construction” category for its work on Saint Luke’s.
The LEED Silver-certified clinic, valued at $11.6 million, was purpose-built for specialized and flexible outpatient care such as imaging, labs and pharmacy services. According to Hoefer Welker, the clinic offers a “flexible floor plan” for its examination rooms, in which specialists can rotate their visits with one patient without reconfiguring the room layout.
Of particular importance for Hoefer Welker was ensuring that the Saint Luke’s Multispecialty Clinic – Blue Springs, Missouri, be a model for sustainability, said Ashley Eusey, P.E., LEED AP, GGP, sustainability specialist at Hoefer Welker.
“Sustainability can provide great value to any project,” Eusey said in a statement to HCO News. “The healthcare industry specifically has a history of extensive water and energy use, so reducing use of these two resources can potentially reduce operating costs.”
Such concerns were ameliorated in the design process with a particular focus on improved stormwater management. Furthermore, construction waste was hauled away in part to divert solid waste away from landfills.
“Resilient design, which emphasizes adaptability and flexibility, can also decrease future renovation costs as medical equipment, technology and treatment approaches evolve over time,” added Eusey.
Hoefer Welker’s sustainability measures at Saint Luke’s included incorporating walking trails throughout the grounds as part of an overall employee wellness program. What the firm calls “strategic daylighting” will hopefully help with darkness-related mood shifts that can occur during the colder months, and electric vehicle charging stations are also included on the site as well as part of the push for sustainability.
In a recent HCO News feature, Patrick McCurdy and Travis Leissner explore how healthcare delivery is rapidly evolving toward accessible, efficient...
Hoefer Welker is serving as architect for a proposed 33-story residential high-rise at 16th and Broadway in downtown Kansas City. Developed by EPC...
As we kick off the new year, our team at Hoefer Welker is taking the opportunity to reflect on the excellent year we had in 2025. Thanks to the...