The medical center is part of Health Quest, a health care organization based in Lagrangeville, N.Y. The new pavilion will include almost 700,000 square feet of space, which will hosue 264 private medical/surgical patient rooms and 30 critical care rooms.

A certificate of need for constructing the new $466 million inpatient pavilion has been filed with the New York State Department of Health (DOH). Contingent upon DOH’s expected approval by the end of 2015, the building will welcome its first patient in January of 2019. If all plans are approved, the pavilion is believed to be the largest construction project in the city’s history.

“Vassar Brothers Medical Center will transform patient care and the patient and family experience in the Hudson Valley with this project,” said Robert Friedberg, medical center president, in a statement. “Making that transformation requires state-of-the art facilities to provide patients with the privacy and healing environment they deserve.”

Washington, D.C.-based architect RTKL Associates is designing the new pavilion. The building’s shape follows the aesthetic of the Hudson River, with curving lines incorporated into the façade. The new private rooms will offer more than double the space per patient than the current semiprivate rooms, with added space for families and visitors. The facility will also incorporate sustainable design and is expected to receive LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Other plans for the new pavilion include an emergency department with 66 treatment rooms; a loading dock with 12 bays for materials management; a conference center with three large rooms for use by the public and service groups; additional parking with 265 spaces; a gift shop; a 240-seat cafeteria with an outdoor veranda; a green roof; and a rooftop helipad.

“The new pavilion will serve all of us fortunate enough to call the Hudson Valley our home,” Gregory Rakow, chairman of the board for Health Quest, said in a statement. “It will become a landmark and asset for the community, a site known for excellent patient care, cutting-edge services and a home for our top-level medical staff.”

The new medical center will be adjacent to Route 9 and the Hudson River will connect to the existing facility.

“One of the guiding principles in the design of the new building is that the quality of space should match the quality of care at the Medical Center,” said Steve Stokes, principal architect of the project from RTKL, in a statement.

An estimated 300 to 400 construction jobs will be created at the peak of the project., which will be partially financed through private hospital funds and hospital bonds. The Foundation for Vassar Brothers Medical Center will also conduct a fundraising campaign to help support the project.

“This project will serve as a catalyst for economic development and provide a stabilizing environment for businesses and homeowners in Poughkeepsie. It will play a major role in community revitalization and allow residents access to high-quality health care they deserve right here in our community,” Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik said in a statement.

The post Health Quest Plans New Inpatient Pavilion appeared first on HCO News.

Only seven projects are LEED-HC certified in the U.S. The USGBC launched the rating system in 2009 and awarded the first certification in April 2013 to a medical office building in Puyallup, Wash. The project was for Group Health Cooperative, a Seattle health care organization. CollinsWoerman, based in Seattle, was the architect for the project and GLY, based in Bellevue, Wash., was the contractor.

In November 2013, Robins & Morton completed a 74,000-square-foot, 53-bed rehabilitation hospital in Ludlow, Mass., for HealthSouth Corporation, which is headquartered in Birmingham. The $27 million HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts was the first Robins & Morton project to achieve LEED-HC.

Before breaking ground in September 2012, HealthSouth; Robins & Morton; and designer Gresham, Smith & Partners, based in Nashville, Tenn., set a goal to obtain LEED-HC Silver certification. As construction progressed, the team picked up additional points due to installation of efficient building systems, generation of renewable energy on site, sourcing a significant percentage of regional and recycled materials, installing materials with a low level of toxins and VOCs and by flushing the building’s HVAC system to improve air quality. Additionally, the owner committed to a series of sustainable practices that would be implemented during operations. The additional points the project team obtained were enough to surpass the silver goal and achieve LEED-HC Gold certification.

“HealthSouth’s goal is to create a hospital environment that meets the highest standards for patient wellness and reduce energy consumption,” said Victoria Healy, chief executive officer of HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts, in a statement. “We want to provide the healthiest environment possible for the healing process.”

In June, MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, Maine, which opened in November 2013, became the first health care facility in the state to receive LEED-HC Gold. The project was a joint venture between architects SMRT in Portland, Maine, and Boston-based TRO/Jung Brannen, as well as a joint venture for construction teams at HP Cummings Construction Company in Ware, Mass., and Robins & Morton.

“Our company-wide policies such as our jobsite waste management policy, sustainable jobsites policy, and environmental and stormwater management policy ensure our teams are committed to protecting the environment on every project,” said Jackie Mustakas, Robins & Morton’s corporate sustainability coordinator, in a statement. “These policies serve as our foundation for sustainable construction and ensure sustainable jobsite measures are a routine part of our company culture.”

The post Robins & Morton Achieves Multiple LEED-HC Certifications appeared first on HCO News.

The post LEED for Healthcare Rating Unveiled appeared first on HCO News.