Lexington Medical Center desired to construct a satellite facility 11 miles from the main campus, to provide convenient patient care for outlying residential communities. Its comprehensive services—which include an outpatient surgery center, urgent care, and medical offices—alleviate the demand placed on the main campus.

The building entrance welcomes patients and visitors into a bright daylighted space. The open staircase across from the elevators gives visitors visual cues for accessing the second-floor medical offices. The use of natural light throughout the building promotes a healthy, healing environment for patients and staff.

The urgent care unit is accessed from the main lobby. All rooms have high windows to maintain privacy but allow daylight to enter. Since Lexington Medical Center opened in 2001, its patient volume in urgent care has doubled the original projections.

The outpatient radiology and mammography departments are located adjacent to the urgent care unit. The mammography exam rooms promote a residential feel with private dressing rooms and a combination of TVs/VCRs for instructional videos. The reading room and tech work area are in a core surrounded by the modalities, to provide convenient access to treatment rooms, medical records, and files at the reception/registration area.

The surgery center, located on the back side of the building, provides a convenient, private entrance for patients and surgeons. The linear layout allows the units to be flex-based during high-demand times, and each space provides the same level of services. The operating room suite was designed for four operating rooms and two endoscopic procedure rooms, with a clean core for supplies.

Project category: New construction (completed August 2001)

Chief administrator: Barbara D. Willm, Vice-President, (803) 358-6160

Firm: GMK Associates, Inc., (803) 256-0000

Design team: Gene King, PE, Structural Engineer (Johnson & King); David Winburn, PE, Civil Engineer (B.P. Barber & Associates, Inc.); Valentine Satko, AIA, Project Director; Lawrence E. Kogut, AIA, Project Manager; J. Brell Foster, PE, Electrical Engineer (GMK Associates, Inc.)

Photography: Robert E. Mikrut, Robert E. Mikrut Photography

Total building area (GSF): 117,444

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $101.75

Total cost (excluding land): $11,948,017