Established in 1916, Morton Plant Hospital was the first hospital built in northern Pinellas County. With the goal of meeting the future healthcare needs of the Clearwater, Florida, community, BayCare Health System tasked Gresham Smith with providing planning and design services for a 392-square-foot addition and renovation of the 687-bed hospital. The monumental project included the four-story Doyle Tower, which places all women’s services, including the Sarah Walker Women’s Center, on a single level for patient comfort, convenience for visiting family members, and increased efficiency.
329k
square-foot addition & renovation
4
story patient tower
1
patient-centered facility
Spacious, Serene & Comforting
Located on the Doyle Tower’s third floor, the Sarah Walker Women’s Center offers spacious labor and delivery birthing suites, while postpartum Mother-Baby suites provide a serene and comforting environment for expectant mothers and their families. Additional services include three operating rooms designed specifically for women’s procedures, obstetric urgent care, and a level II neonatal intensive care unit.
Simplified Wayfinding
In the previous facility, mothers who had just delivered were taken on a long gurney ride through winding public corridors. Moreover, they had to descend steep ramps to reach the elevator, which finally took them to their postpartum room. Consequently, family members often lost their way trying to navigate this unnecessary complexity. Our design resolves this navigational challenge by locating public elevators near the new main entrance, which open directly into a common waiting room that is centrally located between labor & delivery and postpartum.
An Enhanced Environment for Newborns
Striking a distinct contrast between the noisy, open-ward design of the previous neonatal intensive care unit, the hospital’s new NICU features all-private rooms that allow ample space for family and staff, and provide an environment where newborns can get their much-needed REM sleep. Our design brings natural light into the NICU through the use of clerestory windows above the nurse and physician work areas, benefiting both staff and parents. Curtains allow neonates the option for light if needed.
Worth the Wait!
Combining advanced technology and patient-centered care, the Sarah Walker Women’s Center at Morton Plant Hospital holds the highly coveted WHO and UNICEF baby-friendly hospital designations. The women’s program includes a 15-bed NICU, 16 LDRP rooms, 26 postpartum rooms, five antepartum rooms, a C-section suite and a well-baby nursery.Gallery
