Healthcare Design - April 2021 - 13

GOING WITH THE FLOW
Vassar Brothers Medical Center Inpatient Pavilion,
Poughkeepsie, N.Y., opened January

© 2020 FEINKNOPF PHOTOGRAPHY / BRAD FEINKNOPF

T

HE 752,000-SQUARE-FOOT , eight-story Vassar Brothers
Medical Center (VBMC) Inpatient Pavilion project in
Poughkeepsie, N.Y., is designed to deliver a revitalized
and sustainable medical center that will serve as a flagship for owner Nuvance Health while becoming a destination for world-class healthcare as well as a landmark
for the Hudson Valley region.
The new pavilion, which opened in January, expanded
the campus south of the existing hospital to create a new entrance for inpatient flow and stand as a natural wayfinding destination. The elongated
shape of the site and the extensive topographical shifts from one end to the
other created both opportunities and challenges for the design. For example, situated close to Route 9 and overlooking the Hudson River, the building stretches the length of the site, its form curving gently to emulate the
flow of the river. Taking advantage of the site slope, the loading dock, central
energy plant, and parking garages are tucked away to create a separation of
onstage and offstage elements on the campus.
Other program features include a new radiology department, conference
center, café, and relocated helipad. With a tight site, and much of it being
used for the building footprint and circulation, attention was given to elevated terraces, green roofs, and an entry garden that create places for patients to connect with nature. The vista views of the Hudson River Valley
are balanced with campus views to the east.
Inside, the facility houses 264 medical/surgical beds and 30 critical care
beds. Each 350-square-foot patient room features a soft color palette and includes a pullout sofa, Wi-Fi access, and USB ports to charge portable devices.
Artwork depicts nature scenes, while larger windows bring in ample light
and views.
To accurately understand the facility's current state and assess project
goals at the master plan level, the architecture and interior design team at
CallisonRTKL held user group meetings during early phases to immerse
themselves in VBMC's culture, workflow, and processes. For example,
user group meetings and Gemba walks (a process that involves going to the
place where the work is being done to observe) uncovered some previously
implemented " patches " that were actually wasteful in terms of time and
efficiency. By creating spaghetti diagrams and analyzing flows, the design
team was able to optimize travel patterns, while using the unique shape of
the building to help enhance patient satisfaction and staff effectiveness.
The final design concept incorporated improved work flows throughout,
such as in critical care, surgery, diagnostics, emergency, and
various support areas, as well as connectivity to the existing
hospital in order to offer patient, staff, and supply efficiencies
to benefit the overall medical center operations.

APRIL 2021

13
Healthcare Design - April 2021

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