With a desire to bring much-needed healthcare services to the growing North Jacksonville area, UF Health set out to develop a full-service inpatient hospital. That vision transitioned into a bedless hospital that would ultimately allow for the addition of 300 beds as part of a phased expansion. For phase I, Gresham Smith was solicited to design a six-story, 200,000-square-foot ambulatory care center and medical office complex. Gresham Smith’s services extended into phase II with the design of a 160,000-square-foot, five-story inpatient tower.
The 92-bed inpatient wing connects to the phase I medical office complex via an elegant courtyard space, unifying the campus and expanding the facility into a full-service hospital. Every element of the design was aimed toward enhancing the patient experience and elevating the UF Health brand to attract both patients and top-tier staff.
square-foot facility
story inpatient tower
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Cohesive and Connected Campus
The 92-bed inpatient wing connects to the phase I medical office complex via an elegant courtyard space, unifying the campus and expanding the facility into a full-service hospital.
Aesthetic Inspired by Local Waterways
A clear aesthetic concept was developed for the medical center, with geometric forms that interpreted the site’s protected wetlands and the nearby Intracoastal Waterway. Furniture, materials selection and art installations keep with the contemporary architectural feel of the building.
Technology Enhanced Environment
Advanced, customizable technology was also incorporated into the patient rooms. Each is equipped with a multifaceted entertainment and education system that allows a patient to remain in bed while controlling the room’s lighting, temperature and solar-shade system, reducing the risk of falling. Patients can also watch on-demand entertainment, order meals and access the internet from their bed via a bedside tablet. Staff can use the system to notify bed tracking when a room is available, give discharge instructions, and provide telemedicine opportunities for the physicians and patients, streamlining the delivery of information.
Full-Service and Forward-Thinking
The facility includes a 12-bed labor and delivery unit, an eight-bed women’s services unit, a 24-bed intensive care unit and two floors that accommodate 24-bed medical and surgical suites each. In addition to the patient rooms, the tower incorporates shared amenity spaces such as classrooms, indoor and outdoor dining areas, a chapel, a third-floor terrace and a courtyard.
Hospitality-Minded Approach
A soothing, resort-like environment helps put patients and their loved ones at ease. The tower’s all-private inpatient rooms provide access to an abundance of natural light as well as views to lush green roofs. Sleeper-sofas, which conveniently convert into a dining or work table, provide overnight accommodations for family members.
An Eye for the Environment
Green-roofs, solar-shading, fixtures, furniture and equipment selections were all thoughtfully designed and selected for the space. The elements contribute to both an improved patient experience while supporting the facility's desire to be mindful of the environmental impact of their operations. The project is LEED Silver certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
A True Work of Art
The artwork ranged from an illuminated, abstract relief pattern of the St. Johns River that extends up the five-story elevator lobby wall, to color photography of the region taken by local and nationally recognized photographers, to a dramatic ceiling sculpture centerpiece that connects the patient tower’s first-floor lobby with the mezzanine.
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