Healthcare: the need for it will never be completely eliminated, even as medical technology advances. By proxy, there will always be a need for intelligently designed healthcare facilities that make patients feel warmly welcomed and safe.
Mastering the architectural design of these facilities is no easy feat. The building’s environment must be kept clean and medical yet efficient, but also carry a certain welcoming air in the appropriate parts, such as the lobby. It must provide storage room for all sorts of medical equipment, yet it also must provide ample room for the patients themselves. It’s not easy being an architect!
At Miller Architects & Builders, we’ve mastered architectural design services for healthcare facilities, and we’d be glad to work with you to create something that exceeds your expectations.
Let’s talk a bit about how we work to do this: by designing our healthcare facilities with a few important features in mind.
Innovation Is Important, But So Are the Basics
When it comes to both commercial construction and architectural design, there’s a place for innovation and a place for adherence to the basics. Design with innovation ungrounded in conventionality ceases to become functional.
In plainer terms: such a design would be gorgeous and novel, but it would omit the basic things your healthcare facility would need to function, such as a triage area.
At Miller Architects and Builders, we pride ourselves on our innovative spirit, but we never forget the architectural design features that your healthcare facility depends on.
Smartly Placed Hallways
More than a simple way for your staff to get from point A to point B, the design and length of your healthcare facilities’ hallways can mean the difference between life and death for a patient. We design your hallway spaces with this in mind.
We also remain conscientious of the purpose of the rooms surrounding these hallway spaces and how many people would pass through these areas at a time.
Bathrooms
Yes, bathrooms! And we don’t just mean in-patient rooms; your staff needs them too. Adequate bathrooms help ensure worker comfort and efficiency, as they eliminate any long treks from one side of the facility to the other.
Bathrooms are a necessary part of one’s daily routine, and having an accessible facilities unit may ease the comfort of patients and workers alike.
Natural Light
Many people can anecdotally attest to the healing properties of natural light. Properly and appropriately placed windows can create a soothing environment in your medical facility while also cutting down on your lighting bills in certain seasons.
Natural light can aid in vitamin D deprivation, circadian rhythms, efficiency, and producing serotonin. It’s never a bad move to implement some natural light, and there may even be some positive benefits!
Materials for Children
It’s important to remember the comfort of families, as many parents bring their children along for healthcare services. It’s thoughtful to have a space that children can be preoccupied without causing a disturbance to other patients.
This can be as simple as a space designated for children’s books and sitting furniture or a separate space designed to keep them entertained. Parents often experience a level of comfort knowing their children are considered and have distractions when in a healthcare facility.
Sanitizing Stations
When in a healthcare facility, one is typically hyper-aware of their sanitary limitations. Today, most people are fairly used to washing up often or using hand sanitizer at a moment’s notice.
Having quick access to a sanitizing station can help alleviate the anxiety or distractions that come with one’s health concerns. This can be as simple as a clean area designated for non-scented hand sanitizers, antibacterial cloths, and tissues available.
Comfortable Lounge Areas
While healthcare facilities typically have a plethora of chairs and seating options, it’s always good to be intentional about the comfort and layout of your lounge areas. Having options of seating that accommodate anyone can look like providing cushioned seats with (and without) backrests at a range of heights and sizes.
The way you space seating out can make for a more comfortable experience. Having rows of seats facing each other may allow someone to feel as though there’s no privacy. Considering the comfort of lounge spaces can help patients rest and move around!
Choose Miller A&B for Top-Notch Architectural Design Talent
We’re a St. Cloud provider of everything from commercial construction to architectural design services. We’d be privileged to work with you to create the building of your dreams. Give us a call now at 320-251-4109.