LifeStructures New - June

Constructed in four phases, BSA partnered with RSP for interior design/interior architecture,?SSR?for engineering, and?Turner Construction on the healthcare component of the Columbus Regional Health at NexusPark project, working collaboratively as a unified team.?Building from a larger city master plan effort, BSA led a robust pre-design phase utilizing precedent studies, empathy mapping, and research. The former Fair Oaks Mall offered a prime location for accessibility and a welcomed repurposing of a community icon.

The clinical laboratory is a critical component of the diagnostic process and immediately impacts patients' health and safety. The importance of designing labs that optimize testing capacities, speed, and accuracy cannot be understated. Kay Townsend discusses the complexity of lab requirements, which requires a robust specialization in Lean planning, integration, diagnostic devices and equipment, and human performance.

Josh Vel, Scott Allen, and Emmie Tyson join the BSA by Design Podcast to discuss designing and planning for student life on college campuses. The conversation includes creating communal spaces, what to consider when designing residence halls and on-campus housing, promoting wellness, sustainability, flexibility, and adaptability, and creating spaces for engagement and activity.

Recognizing the crucial importance of spatial adjacencies in healthcare facilities is essential. Zahra Zamani, Teri Joy, and Jen Worley discuss these adjacencies as they significantly affect staff morale, fatigue management, operational efficiency, error reduction, and overall patient care excellence. They highlight the need for objective assessments to evaluate the impact of facility layout and space configuration on workflow patterns and staff satisfaction in patient care units.

The findings highlighted a significant frequency of movements between nurse stations, patient rooms, and medication areas. Regression analysis identified several contributing factors to staff satisfaction, including the proximity of supplies, team visibility, ease of access across departments, and the location of equipment rooms. Specifically, satisfaction with the proximity of supplies was positively associated with increased provider satisfaction with workflow, quality of care, and workplace. Additionally, valuable feedback from staff revealed concerns regarding break room placement, medication area functionality, and disparities in the availability of supplies.