Perkins+Will Defines Inclusive Design at New Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

BOSTON, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Global architectural and design firm Perkins+Will adds to the reputation of its award-winning healthcare design practice with the opening of the new 262,000-square-foot Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. The design process, led by Ralph Johnson and managed by Perkins+Will's Boston office, resulted in a state-of-the-art healthcare resource for patients, families, and the community at large. The Charlestown facility expands the offerings of the current 42-year-old hospital at Nashua Street and features 132 private patient rooms, large common areas open to the community and a thoughtful design that promotes wellness for people with disabilities.

"The vision for the new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital was to create a space for patients that promotes healing and addresses the needs of the widest possible audience," said Ralph Johnson, FAIA, LEED AP, Design Director at Perkins+Will. "What resulted is a building design that is transparent and carefully researched."

Located on a remediated brownfield parcel in the Charlestown Navy Yard, the building is a new gathering place for the community – dedicating 75 percent of the first floor to public use and integrating with the Boston HarborWalk. Once part of a timber receiving basin, the landscape design incorporates reclaimed timbers throughout the site and takes full advantage of waterfront views of the Boston skyline. A trail running along the waterfront features therapeutic equipment and offers patients the opportunity to encourage the healing process by performing physical therapy on a variety of different landscaped surfaces. 

Tied to the site's naval yard history, the gray materials of the facade are reminiscent of the military battleships and aircraft carriers berthed at the Yard for much of the 20^th century. The scale of the building is visually reduced by dividing the structure into two connected sections – an eight-story patient tower and a three-story therapeutic gymnasium and pool. The building can be viewed from all sides – there is no back. Each section of the divided structure utilizes a variety of materials to create visual interest and reveal a slightly different building from each angle. Glass curtainwall is generously integrated into the design creating transparency and an abundance of natural light throughout the interior resulting in an atmosphere that is open and inviting. 

The new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital incorporates inclusive design into every aspect of the facility. Perkins+Will's design team was dedicated to researching and testing each component of the design so that the building addresses the needs of the widest possible audience, irrespective of ability. The team worked with accessibility experts and conducted extensive research on their own to create a hospital of the future, one that went beyond only meeting ADA requirements. Every aspect of the building design has been considered – the entry is at street level; the reception desk is low and rounded; the patient rooms have custom cabinetry and automated shades, patient lifts, private bathrooms, and amenities such as private refrigerators, sleeping accommodations for family members and a wireless connection for patients and guests. The building program includes outpatient services, a pool for aquatherapy, two large gymnasiums, an activities-of-daily-living suite, transitional patient apartment, and satellite gyms embedded on two inpatient floors.

"For far too long, rehabilitative care was an afterthought to many, relegated to the basements of hospitals and out of site. This hospital makes a bold statement that a new era of rehabilitative medicine is hereby bringing together scientific innovation and patient-centered design that puts this institution on par with the major centers of healing in the world," said David Storto, President, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. "It's truly an honor to lead Spaulding and serve this region with its leaders who have the forethought to understand how vital Spaulding will be for decades to come."

Led by Perkins+Will's Global Sustainable Healthcare Leader, Robin Guenther, resiliency planning and sustainable design were also a key part of the design process. In response to climate change and probable rising sea levels, the main floor was raised one foot and all of the HVAC equipment was located on the roof.  Gymnasiums, multi-purpose rooms, and educational rooms utilize automatic operable windows for natural ventilation. Operable windows allow the building to remain operational even if mechanical systems are interrupted. Vegetated roofs mitigate storm water runoff and reduce cooling loads and heat-island effect. Therapeutic terraces on the third and fourth floors serve as places of respite for patients, staff and families. Gardens and views of Boston Harbor provide further uplifting diversions to the occupants. The project has achieved LEED™ Gold certification.

"Beyond the energy performance and safety features of the design, we emphasized the importance of creating a healthy healing environment for patients", said Robin Guenther, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal. "We designed a human-centered patient experience—focused on restoration and health— that provides patients, families, and staff a supportive, sustainable environment to improve rehabilitation results."

The project was managed by Perkins+Will's 110-person Boston office. Located in the heart of downtown Boston and serving clients throughout New England and beyond, Perkins+Will's Boston practice is anchored in their ability to unite context with transformative design. They design for the future "sustainability and flexibly" while honoring the cultural and physical context of the past. They are known for their design ingenuity, technical expertise, and unswerving commitment to their clients, including Roger Williams University, MIT, Harvard University, the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Philips Electronics and Microsoft. For more information on the Perkins+Will Boston office, visit http://www.perkinswill.com/offices/boston.html.

About Perkins+Will

Perkins+Will's design vision and compassion have helped shape many of the nation's most progressive academic medical centers, research institutions, community hospitals, and clinics. Previous and current healthcare clients include Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, California. Established in 1935, Perkins+Will is a global interdisciplinary architecture and design firm founded on the belief that design has the power to transform lives and enhance society. With a staff of 1,500 in 22 locations worldwide, the firm serves clients across a broad range of project types and grounds its work in deep research. Perkins+Will ranks among the world's top design firms and is the recipient of hundreds of awards. Social responsibility is fundamental to the firm's outlook, work, and culture, and every year Perkins+Will donates one percent of its design services to non-profit organizations. With pioneering tools to advance sustainable design practices, the largest green building portfolio in North America, nearly 1,000 LEED® Accredited Professionals, and a commitment to the 2030 Challenge, Perkins+Will is recognized as one of the industry's preeminent sustainable design firms. For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.

SOURCE Perkins+Will