Project category: New construction & Remodel/Renovation (completed July 2004)

Chief administrator: R. John Harris, Chief Executive Officer, (972) 412-2273

Firm: Sterling Barnett Little, Inc., (817) 461-1352

Design team: Kellee D. Bowers, AIA, Project Manager; Kellye J. Johnson, AIA, NCARB, Chief Project Planner; Cliff Spruill, Associate AIA, Lead Designer (Sterling Barnett Little, Inc.); Greg Holcomb, Interior Design (Interprise Design); Mark S. Fratto, PE, MEP Systems (Fratto Engineering, Inc.)

Photography: © Mark Olsen

Total building area (sq. ft.): 95,000 (new); 45,000 (renovation)

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $175 (new); $131 (renovation)

Total construction cost (excluding land): $16,625,000 (new); $5,875,000 (renovation)

Having existed without expansion or major renovation since opening ten years earlier, Lake Pointe Medical Center lacked space to support the demands of a growing community and did not provide the patient-focused environment desired in today's healthcare market. This project had to effectively double the space occupied by the ancillary departments of the existing hospital, create a true outpatient service area, and provide a warmer, more friendly environment for patients and visitors, all without negatively affecting existing operations.

The collaboration of the design team, hospital administration, and department representatives produced a functionally desirable solution that could be developed in four major phases of construction and avoid limiting existing capacity during the process. Further collaboration with city planners ultimately accommodated the impact of a severely restricted site, an outcome made crucial by the fact that the hospital would have to be “reoriented” with construction of new inpatient, outpatient, and emergency entries adjacent to new parking areas.

The solution provides a new main entry, visually prominent 24 hours a day, with new private Admissions stations positioned to serve both inpatients and outpatients, as well as providing access to the new Emergency Department (ambulatory) entrance.

The design of the new entrance lobby, known as the “rotunda,” and other exterior forms was spawned by the redbrick and cast-stone arches of the existing hospital. Use of those elements and similar materials successfully blended old and new architectural designs. A colonnade provides access from the new entry to the original hospital lobby and vertical core in a naturally illuminated, visitor- friendly environment. The original entrance and lobby now serve returning visitors of patients in the hospital's original bed units.

New construction on the ground floor also accommodates a new 20-station Emergency Department, a 27-station Outpatient Prep/Phase 2 Recovery Suite, expanded Diagnostic Imaging, and Central Plant expansion. The second floor of new construction contains a 23-bed Medical/Surgical Unit, a 4-bed Sleep Lab, a Pharmacy, and shell space for additional beds.

Major renovation on the first floor of the existing hospital accommodates an enlarged Surgical Services Suite, Women's Imaging component of Diagnostic Imaging, an expanded Administration/Medical Staff/ Finance/Data Processing Suite, and expanded Medical Records and classroom space. The second-floor renovation accommodated an expanded Obstetrical Services Suite, an Intermediate Care Nursery, and a Well-Baby Nursery.