Avail Health Lake Charles Hospital is a state of-
the-art, fully licensed hospital, staffed with
board-certified physicians to bring Lake Charles
concierge-level care tailored specifically with
the community in mind. The 32,000 Sq.Ft.
Microhospital is the first of its kind for Louisiana.
The facility demanded the highest use of space
to accommodate the requirements of a hospital
in the available footprint. Centrally located, Avail
Health supports the industrial complexes of the
port city of Lake Charles with the flexibility to
serve the varied and growing population in the
region. There is a full-service ER, ten inpatient
beds, as well as a retail pharmacy, a state-ofthe-
art CT & imaging suite & an industrial health
department for drug screens & employee health.
A transparent and welcoming building design
engages evidence-based design strategies to
improve the healthcare experience. The building
offers a connection to daylight and the outdoors
from almost any space within.
Everything was designed with the patient
experience in mind. The design includes using
natural light and interiors to complement a
healing environment. Patient care areas were
designed to be efficient and functional while
providing a beautiful hospitality-like environment.
The medical center sits on the eastern half
of its seven-acre property while therapeutic
plantings and outdoor gathering areas grace the
perimeter and are visible from patient areas. Its
contemporary architecture of sweeping horizontal
planes, cantilevers and setbacks, together with
its region-sensitive landscape, is consistent with
the modernist approach and growth of Lake
Charles, whose local landmarks include designs
by different architects consistent with high-end
hospitality design.
Glass-lined walls and eye-catching jewel-box
like curved roofline façade present an inviting
character, revealing the activity within the
building while providing views of surrounding
landscape areas and street scenes. Multiple
screening techniques on the perimeter enclosure
provide privacy from the surrounding residential
homes. The landscaped and outdoor areas are
designed for healing, reflecting and gathering.
Organized for efficiency, the new facility is smaller
than similar hospitals, yet it can efficiently
treat patients in a contemporary, hospitality
setting. The sweeping two story rotunda houses
emergency room treatment areas, patient
check-in, clinical examination and imaging. The
intentional use of floor-to-ceiling curtain wall
provides daylight to waiting and circulation areas.
Patient Rooms are well-appointed with spa-like
bathrooms, high-end finishes and attention to
detail that help patients and their families feel
more comfortable while they recuperate.
**Project completed by BB&W Principal while employed at Kaim Associates, Inc.
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