When HCA wanted to increase its market share in Northern Virginia but existing hospitals were too constrained for expansion, the company selected Gresham Smith to design a new 124-bed hospital and medical office building on a 51-acre greenfield campus. Gresham Smith exhaustively studied ways to improve the efficiency, departmental adjacencies, and internal circulation of HCA’s standard model for new hospitals. Upon completion, we provided the client two options: an adaption of the existing model with the same amenities in 70,000 fewer square feet, and a complete redesign that offered even greater efficiencies. With StoneSprings’ Certificate of Need rapidly nearing expiration and a building footprint already approved by local officials, HCA moved forward with the adaptation of its existing standard while saving the total redesign for future use.
The resulting 234,000 square foot hospital is equipped for comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, surgical and diagnostic medical care, featuring 15 emergency room bays, a cardiac catheterization lab/operating room, and five diagnostic imaging rooms including MRI, CT and nuclear medicine. Sustainable features are found throughout the facility, including a simplified exterior design to reduce construction, energy and operating costs. Ultra-thermal windows, ample brick for sound and thermal insulation, and thicker exterior insulation also increase energy efficiency and combat noise from the nearby Dulles airport.
The hospital’s palette of neutral colors in stone and brick reflect its location along a corridor that transitions from Colonial-style developments of eastern Loudoun County to the farmland and historic sites of western Loudoun County. “The exterior of the building is modern, yet ties in the history of Northern Virginia through the use of stone, reminiscent of the stone walls still found in the surrounding countryside that predate the American Civil War,” said Mark Rader, CEO of StoneSprings Hospital Center. “The interior layout is patient- and visitor-friendly, with ample space for guests to wait comfortably while a loved one is being cared for.”
Gresham Smith’s architectural, structural and interior design services produced a modern, efficient and intuitive facility for HCA that complements regional architecture and gives the company a solid foundation to expand its local services. Opened in December 2015, the new hospital is projected to receive more than 3,200 admissions and nearly 20,000 emergency room visits in its first year.
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