Rush Copley Medical Center | 1.5T MRI Renovation

The Rush Copley Medical Center 1.5T MRI replacement project represents a functional equipment upgrade for an existing MRI room.

In addition to the Siemens 1.5 T MRI equipment replacement, the design team collaborated with RCMC imaging users to re-organize medical gas placement within the room, design purposeful storage solutions for coils and linens, and provide a full lighting upgrade, including a calming Sky Factory image above the table.

PFB collaborated with RCMC and ETS Lindgren to maintain the installed shielding. Repairs were made to the new waveguide and former medical gas floor pedestal.

Interior design included a new edge-lit Sky Factory light fixture with a color-changing LED cove light, as well as a coordinated vinyl mega-graphic on the rear wall.

Outside of the MRI Room, the project included new exterior storefront openings to accommodate the magnet delivery and future equipment removal / replacement.

Minnesota V.A. Health System – Minneapolis | Primary Care Clinic

The overall design concept for this new Primary Care Clinic in Minneapolis, MN reflects a contemporary, first class healthcare facility that relates to the function and character of the Veteran's Administration while establishing a warm, rejuvenating experience for patients. The new 13,500 square foot Primary Care Clinic and associated support functions include: an infection control isolation exam room, procedure rooms specifically designed for specialized treatments, patient care exam rooms, team rooms, and shared medical appointment rooms. The clinic was designed around the Department of Veterans affairs PACT Planning Principles which separate Staff and Patient Flows within the clinic. The Primary Care Clinic will be the first phase of construction, followed by future phases adding an additional 15,500 square foot Clinic space and future expansion to construct a second floor, all connected to the main hospital building by an enclosed walkway.

Rush Copley Medical Center | Cath 3 Lab Renovation

The RCMC Cath 3 Lab Renovation Project is located on the first floor of Building 2000, adjacent to a recently renovated surgical suite. The goals of the project were to accommodate new GE Discovery IGS 740 Imaging equipment, updating patient and material flows to access the newly renovated surgical suite, and provide a full finish upgrade.

A critical component to the design and execution of the room was the specialty resinous floor required for the imaging equipment. The GE IGS 740 includes a roving C-arm on wheels which requires static dissipative flooring with an extremely tight tolerance for flatness and levelness. Proper specification and adherence to installation standards were critical to project success. Outside of the lab floor, finishes were upgraded in unison with the adjacent surgical suite. New seamless solid surface wainscot was installed throughout the lab space.

In addition to equipment planning, PFB worked hand-in-hand with the Contractor, Electrician, and 3rd Party vendors to ensure conduit runs and capacity were adequate. IVUS, Merge, and Medrad cabling was run along with Philips cabling within one segregated floor trough to eliminate additional conduit runs.

About the Project

Designed in Fall 2020, the 10,000 square foot Lake Bluff Medical Office Buildout provides two sectors of care for patients; Integrated Comprehensive Care (ICC) and Primary Care. PFB worked hand-in-hand with NM leadership, project management and user groups to blend the program for these traditionally separate clinics. Full implementation of ICC and Primary Care standards was achieved while planning shared program between the two clinics. In addition to planning the fit-out, the design team was tasked with coordinating with the shell building design and construction team led by GW Properties. Full medical equipment planning was provided for all spaces on this project.

About The Project

Northwestern Medicine engaged PFB Architects to enlarge and update the Nuclear Camera room, Hot Lab, and Control Room at McHenry Hospital in order to accommodate a new Siemens Symbia Camera. In addition to coordinating all architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection modifications for the new equipment, PFB also designed new finishes and millwork, in keeping with the hospital’s updated design standards. The existing room was not lead-lined, which was rectified during the renovation in coordination with the NM Radiation Physicist. The project also incorporated a biophilic design feature in the Sky Factory Luminous SkyCeiling, displaying a galactic scene. IDPH granted occupancy to the space immediately following the final life safety inspection.

Northwestern Medicine | McHenry Hospital | Bed Tower Renovation

Northwestern Medicine engaged PFB Architects for the multi-phased renovation of the McHenry Hospital bed tower, consisting of the 5th Floor Cardiac Telemetry and ICU, 6th and 7th Floors Telemetry and Med-Surg, and 8th Floor Family Birthing Center (Post-Partum Beds). The primary goal of this project is to improve patient satisfaction, achieved by converting all semi-private rooms to fully private and modernizing the remainder of the floors. Where possible, existing patient showers are moved inboard to maximize the amount of exterior windows and natural light available to each patient room. Along with architectural improvements, each patient room is equipped with a dedicated fan coil unit, allowing each patient to control the temperature of their room. Improved finishes, lighting, furniture and equipment further enhance the quality of the space.

In addition to patient experience, reorganization and streamlining staff support spaces were an important project driver. The renovation provides each “Pod” on each floor with a dedicated Meds, Nourishment and Clean Storage Room. PFB worked collaboratively with Pharmacy and Supply Chain Facilities groups to properly size and design the features of these spaces to limit re-stock timeframes as well as limit travel distance for Nursing Staff. The result of these exercises were a 20% increase in the amount of support space on each floor, which in-turn allows for more focus on patient care.

Phasing requirements for the project also provided the design and Facilities team with challenges. It was determined early on that the project would be constructed in four phases over a 2-year period in order to limit reduction in available beds. Phases stack Vertically, and are located in a quadrant of the building, facilitating plumbing riser and storefront replacement project scope while limiting impact on occupied adjacent pods.

PFB worked closely with Northwestern Medicine’s internal interiors group to develop a new finish palette for McHenry Hospital, merging Northwestern West and North Region standards with existing conditions within the recently-acquired hospital. When Northwestern requested their system-wide wood-look laminate in the elevator lobbies for a branded experience, we were able to incorporate that palette adjustment using complimentary materials already in the project to create a seamless transition from the cherry wood lobbies into the walnut wood patient areas.

Shengjing Hospital

Replacement Hospital

The Dalian Branch Hospital Campus Master Plan created a multi-phased campus redevelopment plan to fully replace the existing, aging facility. Designed in partnership with KaziaLi Design Collaborative, our vision was to create a calm, open, and welcoming environment that supports the healing process.

After careful analysis of the site opportunities, we designed a hospital which maximizes views of the adjacent mountain scenery, incorporating curved, open spaces that flow seamlessly like the ocean, while embracing the power of life embedded in and represented by the surrounding aging trees. Our vision puts first the majority of our hospital’s users – patients – creating a design that symbolizes health and longevity.

Phase I: Demo Pharmaceutics and Dynamic Services Center. Construct fully operational, stand-alone hospital with ED, OP, Imaging, Surgery, Admin, and 721-Bed Tower.

Phase II: Demo Existing Hospital and infill with additional OP functions and 784 more beds, for 1505, total.

About the project

Located in the lower level of an LCMH Medical Office Building, this space was an ideal location to expand the services of their existing Physical Therapy Department. Programmatic requirements included a waiting space adjacent to reception, charting space for therapy staff with full vision of all patient zones, a small changing area, and ancillary support spaces. The basis of design was to encapsulate the two existing columns within reception / charting to avoid compromising open therapy spaces. The two large open spaces flanking the central, enclosed staff area are accented by acoustical clouds tying back to a boldly-colored soffit. Rather than divide the space with transitions, PFB specified a Forbo Flooring system with solid color and wood-look plank options. This system not only has characteristics and acoustical properties of carpet, but also the housekeeping durability of VCT.

About the project

The new 3-story, 45,000 SF Oak Lawn medical office building has been conceived as an outpatient care center to consolidate the current Urgent Care Station, Imaging Unit, and the Physicians Association offices, as well as provide leasable space for medical offices of various types. The new comprehensive facility was designed to optimize customer convenience and comfort. Patients receiving multiple services will remain in one location. Imaging, cardiology, mammography, CT, and MRI are all services offered in the building.

On the ground floor, the two-story lobby sets the tone for a well-organized flow to any specific service. It is filled with natural light and helps provide visual orientation for those on the second floor. First floor services include Urgent Care and Imaging. Urgent Care consists of eight standard and two over-sized exam rooms - the latter designed for specialty cases - a centralized nurse station and waiting, clean and soiled utility, physician offices, lab, and check-in space. Imaging includes one CT scan, one future CT scan room, one mammography room, one Echo room, and four waiting areas. The Imaging and Lab waiting area uses back-lit color wall panels and recessed lighting to help define the four seating groups.

The upper floors of the new medical office building are dedicated to various physicians groups. The majority of the second floor is reserved for the Little Company of Mary Employed Physicians Group, and consists of Family Practice, Women's Health, Orthopedics, and Behavioral Health Clinics. Family Practice, Women’s Health, and Orthopedics share a main waiting area and reception desk. The staff at the reception desk determine which door patients use to enter the physician suite based on their specific needs. For additional privacy, Women’s Health has their own waiting area separate from the main waiting area.

The third floor layout was designed to allow various configurations for one, two, and three physician office suites. It is anticipated that patients from these physicians will make use of the imaging and diagnostic services provided on the first floor and lower level of the facility.

About the project

Completed as part of an IDIQ Contract, this MRI renovation project is located in the existing Radiology Department on the 1^st Floor of C-Section, Building 200 at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. Central to the renovation is a new Siemens Skyra 3T MRI (MRI3), and the creation of proper zoning for the new and existing MRIs.

PFB’s knowledge and experience with the Radiology Department at Hines led to our recommendation to create a dedicated MRI waiting room. The new layout allows an MRI-specific receptionist to have visual control as patients move from the waiting room to the changing room and to the new central patient holding alcove.

Technically, the project presented many challenges to the design team. PFB worked with our engineering partners to develop creative solutions for MRI quench vent routing, relocation of utilities, and ensuring uninterrupted operation of the existing MRIs. Relocation and expansion of the existing IT closet was critical to this project’s success, and expanded capacity for future renovations. The project was constructed concurrently with a full building power upgrade, which required collaboration between multiple contractors, designers, and VA facilities.