Your firm’s role on the project: Architectural services
Type of facility: Patient tower
Number of beds: 90
Specialty services (e.g. cancer center): Orthopedics, oncology, cardiac care
Project Website: www.stvhs.com
Design completed: April 2005
Construction completed: December 2006
Occupancy: December 2006
Project vision/goals
St. Vincent’s vision seeks to transform healthcare while responding to the needs of individuals throughout the life cycle and to ensure a strong, vibrant Catholic health ministry for the future.
Lessons Learned
- St. Vincent’s Environmental Services staff is adjusting to new cleaning requirements for finishes in the South Tower.
- The South Tower has elevated expectations, and everyone wants to be in the South Tower.
- There is a high demand for patient suites.
Published articles:
Buildings magazine, Oct. 2007, “A Holistic Healing Environment,” Citation of Excellence award winner article
Cover story in Health Facilities Management’s June 2007 issue, “Strong Finish: New Patient Tower Tops Off Alabama Hospital’s Master Plan”
Opening in December 2006 two months ahead of schedule, the new seven-story, 218,950-square-foot South Tower at St. Vincent’s Birmingham houses a new Emergency Department, 90 med/surg beds and shell space. Blending beautifully with the existing components on the medical campus, the expansion is linked to the existing main hospital via a public connector and is sited tightly adjacent to busy thoroughfares in its metropolitan setting.
The patient-focused, hospitality-influenced healing environment provides accommodations for family members, as St. Vincent’s recognizes the integral role that families play in patient care. Each of the three completed patient care floors contains 30 private patient rooms and four family suites in addition to a family lounge and family pantry. Patient rooms are equipped with writing desks and wireless Internet access.
Natural light, textures and color incorporated into the tower’s design serve as positive reinforcement for patients and family members. Nurses, medical personnel and patients have the benefit of natural light emitted into each patient floor via the dramatic atrium lobby. Beds are angled toward windows for the psychological effect.
