Healthcare

Swedish Orthopedic Institute, Seattle, WA
Owner: Swedish Medical Center
Client/Architect: NBBJ
Completion: 2008

This new 372,000 sq. ft. orthopedic facility is the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. With ten dedicated orthopedic surgeries and three floors of patient rooms, the innovative facility provides Swedish patients with access to the latest technology through highly personalized care. An abundance of daylighted spaces and amenities encourage family participation and enhance the healing process.

Infection control was the cornerstone of mechanical design, utilizing laminar flow diffusers with HEPA filters in the operating rooms, two-stage air volume control in surgeries and patient rooms, and recirculation air handling units with HEPA filtration and UVC germicidal lights in all patient care areas.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) was successfully used to provide representations of spatial relationships in patient care areas to doctors and nurses, and to demonstrate the organization of ceiling systems to facility operating personnel for maintenance access purposes.

Healthcare facilities face a dual challenge: to provide a safe healing environment while maintaining efficient operations. The mechanical systems for this $140 million medical facility met both challenges head on.

2009 ACEC WA Design Excellence Bronze Award: Original or Innovative Application of New or Existing Techniques