Though not characteristic of the complex’s overall character, the main entrance of the 103-year-old Maimonides Medical Center was small, labyrinth-like, and dark. BKSK was selected in the course of a limited competition to transform the entry experience and provide a gateway to the sustainable, high quality, and patient-centered institution. The work became the centerpiece of the hospital’s centennial year promotional campaign.
The project's design team focused on opening up a series of cramped spaces at the building's entrance, including the welcome desk, admitting and discharge rooms, gift shop, and coffee bar. It also sought to improve circulation and way-finding at the hospital’s most heavily-trafficked junction. By identifying under-utilized rooms and corners, the new scheme increased the usable square footage by 25%. Outside, a new deep canopy expands the center’s entry threshold and also yolks together the center’s existing wings—each built in a different era—with a coherent architectural language.
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