9 Things Every Healthcare Architect Should Know

They are open 24/7; filled with people of all walks of life; encompassing the drama of birth, death, medical miracles and sad tragic tales. Layers of narratives that defy architectural typologies. A hospital is not an industrial space, nor an office space, nor a hotel. Embrace the complexity.

The patient and family experience is of primary importance – spend time in medical centers and experience the challenge of providing security, privacy and dig

The best designs have a clear divide between “front of house” and “back of house” or “onstage” versus “offstage.”  Patients and visitors are more comfortable if they are not exposed to the full operational plant of a hospital.

Wayfinding is a challenge in all hospitals. Keep any design simple and limit the amount of decision points for patients and visitors.

Staff work long hours, and, in northern cities during the winter months they arrive to work in the dark and leave in the dark. Having spaces where their work intersects with views and daylight is of vital importance.

Understanding how the room will be used: what will happen and how it will happen. Understanding the equipment requirements. Never underestimate the time and care you need to understand everything that plugs in.

We are designing spaces for people at their most vulnerable do not assume that people are alert, aware and unimpaired. The majority of inpatients are elderly, as are many of their visitors. 

Net usable program space is at a maximum in schematic design. Design Development and Construction Documents tighten up every space with shear walls, mechanical and plumbing risers, build out for electrical panels, roof drains, expansion joints and ever-growing clinical equipment needs. Oversize at first to ensure that you can meet program needs in the end.

It is really challenging to make a beautiful hospital, especially on a tight budget, but the importance of creating really well-designed spaces is so important. Lots of daylight and views, simple organization and lovely distractions can result in a tightly organized, functional building that is uplifting to the spirits of the staff, patients and visitors.