William Sheely, AIA Partner The Orcutt/Winslow Partnership Phoenix, Arizona

In the world of healthcare, change is constant. Creating a vision for a surgical department and using a methodology to ensure that space planning and budgets reflect the vision are key to successful facility remodels.

According to one healthcare executive, "We need to be able to define the space program in terms of our vision so that our budgets and pro-formas reflect the space needed to Implement the vision. But this needs to occur before we commit to the project design and prior to engaging our staff in a detailed programming and planning effort."

In developing a new ambulatory surgery program, the challenge for healthcare administrators is to define their vision before planning and probing occurs with enough specificity to establish space and cost budgets that can be adhered to as the project is developed. By defining the vision and its impact on each of the key-area space generators, the vision can be integrated into the planning guideline. The space baseline can then be modified, specific to the project's vision, to establish realistic space parameters for the project and budget development. The programmers and architects can communicate the vision to the departmental staff as the project is being developed. Finally, the vision-driven space guidelines will allow for a backcheck to permit the healthcare system's leadership to monitor the project development and avoid space increases due to "wish listing."

The intent of the method described is to give greater definition to the leadership's vision of the facility and enable that vision to be present throughout the programming and planning phases.

Photos/Plans

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