Medical Construction & Design

MAY-JUN 2016

Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.

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Spray disinfectants clean surfaces well, until bacterial recontamination occurs. Antimicrobial agents, however, exert a continuous, ongoing reduction in the level of contamination. Soaking bedding, nurses' uniforms and bandages in silver nitrate has been used to make them anti- microbial, but the trend is for the ef ective nanoparticles to be built into surfaces. 3. Leveraging technologies As the delivery of healthcare increasingly takes place in an ambulatory care setting, the need for smart buildings is more important than ever. Green buildings incorporate sophisticated controls for lighting and HVAC systems to conserve energ y and ensure that the systems are only on when needed. One of the best innovations is a hydro-powered turbine inside an automatic faucet that charges the power supply during usage. This not only reduces the cost of installing power sources and wiring but eliminates the maintenance cost and environmental impact of battery replacement. Inside the patient room, access to information and room controls through fl at-screen monitors and bedside consoles is increasingly prevalent. Medical records, billing history and pending procedures can be viewed, the lights dimmed, ther- mostats adjusted and visitors greeted on- line. Most importantly, patients have more control of their environment — reducing stress and aiding healing. 4. Adaptive reuse of buildings For years, environmentalists have urged "reduce, reuse, recycle" to support a holis- tic approach to sustainability. This motto also applies to the built environment. There is a resurgence in adaptive reuse projects, particularly in ambulatory care settings. The great infl ux of mall clinics has not abated, nor is it expected to in the next several years. Existing buildings not only allow for these services to come to market faster but are typically embed- ded within the fabric of the communi- ties where the ambulatory centers are targeted. Reusing existing buildings has great environmental and social ef ects and reduces construction waste. 5. Zero-energy buildings This trend will continue to grow, espe- cially for healthcare buildings. Net-zero buildings can operate independent of the electric grid by relying on renew- able sources of energ y to generate the building's electricity. While zero energ y buildings are more expensive up front, the long-term environmental and opera- tional benefi ts are compelling. Beyond LEED A building designed to deliver health- care should itself be healthy. Healthcare institutions rely on LEED guidelines for insuring the best air quality, water ef ciency and energ y programs for their buildings. In recent years these same institutions have realized that LEED alone does not go far enough. Some hospitals have begun to develop and incorporate broader frameworks to construct buildings that not only don't pollute, but participate as a positive force in the local ecosystem. Regenerative projects send cleaner air back into the environment, send excess electricity to the grid and return water to the hydrologic system cleaner than it was before. To truly support the health of the community, hospital building design will mean going beyond the gold. Oscar F. Gomes, P.E., is a structural engineer and project manager at EwingCole. Colleen E. Harrington, IIDA, LEED AP, is director of interior design, healthcare, at EwingCole. Green news & practices Hospitality design-inspired spaces, such as this one at SUNY Upstate Cancer Center in Syracuse, New York, provide patient comfort. SUNY: Halkin Mason Photography 58 Medical Construction & Design | M AY/ J U N E 2016 | MCDM AG.COM

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