WHR Design Unites Medicine, Technology, City & Hospital in Expansion of Stamford Hospital

06/21/2013 | WHR Architects

On May 14 Stamford Hospital executives, city officials, community and board members, employees and medical staff celebrated the groundbreaking for a new hospital expansion designed by WHR Architects. Brian G. Grissler, Hospital President and CEO said, “Today is a major milestone in a plan that has been many years in the making.” Houston-based WHR has worked closely with the hospital during those years on the planning and design of a facility that creates a new model of care.

Stamford Hospital’s main campus is a collection of buildings, some dating back to the turn of the last century. The campus and buildings must evolve to meet the changing needs of today’s patient-centered, efficient, and technologically advanced medicine. This means replacing outdated buildings with a facility that can accommodate and adapt to the very latest in medical technology, while delivering care in a humane, patient-centered environment.

“Having worked with the administrators and clinical staff at Stamford Hospital for over a decade on a series of master plans, renovations and expansions, we have seen first hand their commitment to the best in personal care that demystifies the healthcare experience,” said Charles Cadenhead, FAIA, WHR’s principal-in-charge and lead medical planner for the new hospital. “The hospital took the time to study healthcare challenges, seek out the best examples and plan for a future filled with advances in medicine while being sensitive to the needs of patients and their families, as well as doctors and clinical staff.”

“As a partner in the Plantree organization, the design of the new facility reflects the philosophy that places a priority on providing the highest levels of patient and family care,” Tushar Gupta, AIA, the project designer observed. “Stamford recognizes the interdependence between an efficient, healthful environment and the wellbeing of people and the facility embodies those principles at every level of design — from clinical space to patient rooms to the way that the new building is connected to its community context. This includes the use of natural light and a building design more closely integrating the facilities with nature, along with more effective noise control and way-finding.”

“It will be a significant transformation from the current traditional and institutional feel to a more calming, welcoming environment,” added David Kamp, FASLA, of Dirtworks Landscape Architecture.

Michael Pavia, the mayor of Stamford, summed up the impact of the new hospital saying on the community saying, “This is another great day for the City of Stamford. Breaking ground for the new Stamford Hospital is going to be a record setting event, a monumental event, an event that sets the tenor and pace for what we’re expecting Stamford to be in the future.”

The new, 11-story, 636,247 square foot Stamford Hospital, which will be constructed in a single-phase at an estimated $450 million, is scheduled for completion in 2016. Key features include:
--Patient care units with all private rooms and private bathrooms, as well as centralized nurses’ stations for more flexible care delivery and dedicated family spaces on each floor.
--An Emergency Department with separate treatment areas for trauma, cardiac, urgent, behavioral health and pediatric patients, more than doubling the number and size of exam rooms. In addition, there will be dedicated and easily accessible parking, along with individual points of entry for walk-in and ambulance arrivals.
--Significantly larger surgical suites to accommodate the latest technology.
--A new Pediatric Unit in the Whittingham Pavilion adjacent to the current Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to centralize mother-child services.
--An expansion of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) emphasizing the Hospital’s commitment to critical care and tertiary services.
--A central location for all Heart & Vascular Institute services, including Electrophysiology, Catheterization and Interventional Labs.

Among WHR’s recent and current healthcare projects are the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, Rex UNC Healthcare Heart & Vascular Hospital in North Carolina.

Contact Nancy Egan (egan@newvoodou.com), National PR Consultant at New Voodou or Michael Jones (mjones@whrarchitects.com), Public Relations Manager at WHR Architects for additional information.

About WHR Architects, Inc.
WHR Architects is a full service architecture, interior design and technology planning firm. The firm’s commitment to critical thinking is balanced by an ingrained empathy that results in both improved project outcomes and positive working experiences for their clients. With over 130 people in Houston and Dallas, Texas, and New Jersey, the 34-year-old firm is working on projects throughout the US for top–tier public and private education and medical institutions. For more information about WHR Architects, visit www.whrarchitects.com and follow @whrarchitects on Twitter.

 

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