News: Construction Design & Engineering

HGA completes new Center for Advanced Heart Failure in Boston at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, MA HGA has completed the Beth Israel Lahey Health’s new Center for Advanced Heart Failure & Cardiomyopathy Care at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). HGA reimagined the patient and provider experience, to create the new outpatient clinic through a full-gut renovation of 11,000 s/f on BIDMC’s West Campus.

Beth Israel Lahey Health, one of the leading cardiovascular services providers in eastern Massachusetts, sees more than 5,000 patients each year with advanced heart failure. A chronic condition, heart failure can be treated, managed, and sometimes cured.

The newly designed outpatient clinic accepted its first patients in June. It consists of 10 exam rooms, and several specialized spaces for performing stress tests, echocardiograms, ultrasound, and two infusion treatment rooms specific to the care of heart failure patients. Staff spaces were uniquely designed, balancing off-stage areas to allow for respite and focus, with on-stage open nurse stations and carefully positioned sightlines. Footsteps and travel distances were of paramount focus throughout the design, both for staff operational efficiency and patient experience.

The design creates a warm, welcoming, and anxiety-reducing setting for patients while incorporating BIDMC’s design standards by featuring shades of blue, purple, and beige. In addition to modern flooring and innovative lighting, HGA designed a contemporary ceiling feature in the waiting area. This organically shaped and naturally patterned lighting feature provides a soothing, calm environment for patients and their families. This feature was inspired by the fractal patterns and shadows found with the leaves of forest canopies, immediately creating a sense of comfort and reduction in stress.

During the early stages of the design process, HGA’s design team, including members of the design insight group, met with key stakeholders for a two-day workshop focused on developing the new clinic with a comprehensive patient care model that serves patient treatment and testing needs. In advance of the workshop, HGA researched current state assessments to identify Critical to Quality (CTQ) metrics, laying the groundwork for a productive and informed collaboration with the clinical staff and key stakeholders. The HGA research team worked with the clinic manager to plan for anticipated volumes.

“The HGA team was able to collaboratively identify the design that best met the goals for the new clinic,” said Kevin Wyrsch, HGA principal. “The purposefully designed facility required technical healthcare design for groundbreaking technology that supports the Center for Advanced Heart Failure & Cardiomyopathy Care’s growing heart transplant program.”

Goals that guided the clinic design included:

Human Experience: Clear wayfinding and easy access, quality of environment to match quality of care, bring the services to the patient, right size staff lounge, provide soothing views of Boston’s Emerald Necklace

Operational Efficiency: Sufficient storage, conveniently located, universal, flexible exam rooms and infusion spaces, staff visualization flow, easy to maintain finishes and materials

Clinical Outcomes: Safe waiting for immunocompromised patients, exam rooms close to phlebotomy, space to accommodate a six-minute walk test

The project included HGA’s architects, medical planners, interior designers, and lighting designers, in addition to HGA’s design insight group to collect data and develop processes.

Specialty Consultants and Partners:

MEPFP Engineer: Fitzemeyer & Tocci Associates, Inc.

Structural Engineer: Souza True & Partners. Inc.

Construction Manager: Suffolk Construction

MORE FROM Construction Design & Engineering

Nobis Group awards Robinson and Moreira STEM scholarships

Concord, NH Nobis Group, a 100% employee-owned consulting firm specializing in engineering and environmental solutions across the Northeast, has named the recipients of its 2025 STEM Scholarship: Andie Moreira of
READ ON THE GO
DIGITAL EDITIONS
Subscribe
Columns and Thought Leadership
The design-build advantage: Integrated interior design solutions - by Parker Snyder

The design-build advantage: Integrated interior design solutions - by Parker Snyder

When it comes to corporate interior spaces for both commercial and industrial projects, partnering with a design-build firm with in-house interior design services can offer clients many benefits. Unlike traditional delivery methods where interior designers operate independently from the design and construction teams, often creating a longer project timeline as cost negotiations and revisions ensue
The rise of incubators and co-working spaces: The latest in life sciences - by Matt Combs

The rise of incubators and co-working spaces: The latest in life sciences - by Matt Combs

In recent years, the life science industry has witnessed a shift in how companies operate and innovate. One of the key driving forces behind this transformation is the emergence of incubators and co-working spaces specifically tailored to meet the unique budget and schedule needs of startups.
Careers in Construction Month focus on training and safety - by Joe Camilo

Careers in Construction Month focus on training and safety - by Joe Camilo

October is Careers in Construction Month, and rarely has it been more consequential. According to our chapter’s national parent organization, the construction industry needs to attract half-a-million new workers in the coming year to meet demand. Addressing that need is a huge job, but we at ABC MA are trying to do our part.
Ask the Electrician: Is summer a prime time for commercial electrical maintenance?

Ask the Electrician: Is summer a prime time for commercial electrical maintenance?

The answer is “Yes!” While January marks the official new year, many businesses view September as a fresh start. This makes summer an ideal time for commercial property owners to schedule long-term electrical maintenance projects.