After working closely with HealthSouth staff to gain a thorough understanding of the unique needs of the new hospital, Gresham Smith designers geared architecture and interior design elements specifically toward patient success and well-being, creating an intuitive and aesthetically pleasing design that helps patients and staff achieve their recuperation goals. Upbeat colors and bright lighting were used in the hospital’s higher-activity rehabilitation areas to improve wayfinding and enhance patient safety. Private patient rooms were designed to provide a calm, quiet and comfortable environment, while an improved wayfinding system helps both patients and visitors navigate the facility.
The flooring pattern in the hospital’s corridors and gym area was designed to assist in gait training for patients, with the flooring itself providing the distance markers needed for assessment. Each hallway features a specific repeated pattern that is measured out in meters, and matches the distances marked in most standard gait tests. As a result, therapists don’t require a special area for the test, and patients are unaware their gait is being assessed, allowing staff to observe their progress in a more natural setting. Additionally, the differing floor patterns throughout the facility serve as an effective wayfinding tool.