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previous tenant in order to reveal the up- lifting double-height space that had been the NMU hiring hall. Embracing maritime cues Throughout, the interior design takes in- spiration from the original building's nau- tical themes — soothing greens and blues recall the sea, teak walls and columns recall a ship deck or promenade. Lighting fi xtures evoke a ship's portholes or ephem- era of the sea — and Ledner's prominent use of the circular form. In the main ED space, the interior de- sign is deployed to dramatic, but soothing ef ect through the introduction of three suspended, curved ceiling planes that emulate a ship's sails. The panels dif use interior lighting, are acoustically treated to dampen the noise of a busy city emergency room and hide a number of MEP systems. To thread the multitude of ducts through- out the building, the original circular core for vertical distribution was repurposed. Additional features are: EXAM ROOMS: The 26 exam rooms (including two 23-hour-stay rooms) are individual treatment rooms rather than open bays to promote privacy. A THIRD ENTRANCE: for access to the building's upper fl oors. Upon comple- tion in 2015, it will house outpatient services and support spaces. TRAUMA ROOMS: Two trauma rooms, designed to accommodate up to fi ve patients, are located just inside the ambulance entrance. A sliding glass door between rooms allows for the medical team to treat multiple patients in each room at the same time. AMBULANCE BAY: A covered of - street ambulance bay on the south side of the building provides a distinct entrance to the opposite end of the emergency department, with immediate access to the trauma rooms. It includes a discrete entry for sexual assault patients. To accommo- date of -street ambulance unloading and parking, portions of the exterior wall had to be removed. The cast-in-place shear walls that enclosed the building's western core were cut and re-framed with steel. Preserving history The aging, crumbling façade presented another opportunity for the transforma- tion of the building as a remnant of another time into the vibrant home for a high-tech emergency department. After research- ing and probing the façade, the peeling ceramic tiles (not original to Ledner's design, 1-inch tiles were bonded to the exterior concrete panels per a mainte- nance consideration by NMU of cials in 1966) were removed and restored to their original fi nish. The Landmarks Commission mandated retention of the glass block façade — a dis- tinctive feature of the building's original design — that encloses the perimeter wait- ing and patient rooms. The design team rebuilt the exterior walls with same-sized glass blocks that include a fi brous glass insert to provide privacy and increase energy performance. In order to accom- modate the required program, the radius of the curved glass brick wall at the north changes. This change from the original glass blocks becomes much shallower to accommodate the program. This newly de- fi ned glass block wall also incorporates a change to the pattern to dif erentiate from the original, and provides a subtle cue to the adaptive reuse of the original building program. In case of emergency In the event of a large-scale emergency, the waiting room can be used as a triage area. In fact, the facility was presented as a case study on how New York hospitals might (and were then) prepare for a pos- sible Ebola pandemic. While the facility is not designated by the city as a disaster triage center, it can be utilized as such like other similar facilities in the city. The spaces were planned and designed to be able to accommodate this use in the event of need. This included the need for materials throughout that could be easily cleaned and disinfected to limit the spread of infection. For instance, the fl ooring materials in the lobby and treat- ment areas are monolithic and have sealed joints. The team treated it as a design opportunity, as well; interlocking circles, again in soothing blues and greens, evoke Ledner's original design vision and goal. From a hiring hall to place of healing, the Lenox Hill HealthPlex returns the building to its original intent as a place of fairness and equality, resuscitating a midcentury modern building for a truly progressive purpose today. Frank Gunther, AIA, is a principal and board direc- tor at Perkins Eastman, where he also serves as the leader of the healthcare practice in New York. Gunther led the overall team as principal-in-charge for Lenox Hill HealthPlex. ISSUE FOCUS Support Facilities Two trauma rooms, located just inside the covered ambulance entrance, are sized to accommodate two patients each if needed. A sliding glass door between rooms also allows for the medical team to treat multiple patients in each room at the same time. 28 Medical Construction & Design | M A RCH /A PR IL 2015 | MCDM AG.COM