Healthcare Design - December 2013 - 72

T TRANSFORMATIONS | 12.13
BEFORE

Holy Redeemer Healthcare at Bensalem, Bensalem, Pa.
By Jennifer Kovacs Silvis

The idea: Holy Redeemer Health System
adopted a new model of care for its outpatient
settings, striving to create vibrant spaces for
patient and staff interaction and wellness education. The system turned to its Holy Redeemer Healthcare at Bensalem site in Bensalem,
Pa., as the first project to be completed under
this vision. The existing outpatient space
didn't separate front-of-house and back-ofhouse functions, nor were there designated
support areas for patients, families, and staff.
Existing finishes and interior architecture fell
flat, too. The Kahler Slater (Milwaukee) design
team was brought on board to create a plan
that introduced unique spaces full of curves,
color, texture, and light to bring the organization's new prototype to life.
How they did it: Faced with a
20,000-square-foot space, the designers
were challenged to fit both necessary programmatic elements (including family medi-

Do you have a space that's been transformed?
Send before and after photos, and a brief project
description, to Jennifer Kovacs Silvis at jsilvis@
vendomegrp.com.
72

HCDmagazine.com 12.13

cine, obstetrics, breast surgery, wound
care, lab, imaging, and a timeshare suite
for visiting specialists) as well as areas that
support Holy Redeemer's vision for the
patient experience (including family support areas, resource center, and Internet
café). The solution was to create shared
patient and family waiting spaces and
amenities as well as shared staff support
areas that are all accessible from multiple
points in the facility. To do so, the design
connects what would have otherwise been
separate clinics through themed "fire" and
"water" public corridors. Those corridors
link "living room" waiting spaces that can
be accessed from several medical suites,
with alternative waiting areas available, too.
At the back of the medical center, a staff
corridor was created that runs the length
of the center and features a separate
employee entrance, private kitchen and
dining, and staff lockers, with entrances
to the medical suites providing a transition
area for staff entering the front-of-house.
The big reveal: The center, which was
completed in November 2012, provides

To see an expanded source list, visit www.
hcdmagazine.com/holy-redeemer.

a patient-centric design with support
features including the living room waiting spaces outside of the suites, as well
as more private conversation rooms.
Additional family support is provided in
the Sun Space, a room for education,
support groups, and wellness classes.
To provide a warm, comfortable area
where patients and visitors could relax
or research an illness, the project also
includes a resource center/Internet
café (pictured above) that serves as
an alternative to the traditional waiting
spaces. A final phase of the project
is currently underway and includes a
training space for staff and a specialty
retail shop for women with breast
cancer. HCD

Warm up

Completion date: November 2012
Owner: Holy Redeemer Health System
Architecture: Kahler Slater
Interior design: Kahler Slater
Contracting: Wolfe Scott Associates Inc.
Engineering: Wick Fisher White
Construction: Wolfe Scott Associates Inc.
Total building area: 20,000 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: $5.7 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $285

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Healthcare Design - December 2013

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