daSILVA Wins 2009 Design Citation Award for Memorial Sloan-Kettering ICU
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Intensive Care Unit, designed daSILVA Architects pc, has been selected as the recipient of the 2009 ICU Design Citation Award, which is co-sponsored by the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), and the AIA Academy on Architecture for Health. The competition was judged by a panel of architects, physicians, and nurses.
Completed earlier this year, the 20,000 SF unit achieves a new level of excellence in the design hospital intensive care facilities, synthesizing the needs of doctors, patients, and patients’ families with state-of-the-art technology. LCD privacy glass replaces curtained partitions; turning from clear to opaque nurses can either monitor or give patients privacy, with the flick of a switch. Nursing stations have direct lines of sight to each patient room; a web cam allows physicians to monitor patients from anywhere at anytime. The use of booms in lieu of headwalls provides maximum flexibility in the room layout.
“The Sloan-Kettering ICU promotes healthy spatial relationships between caregivers and those in need of care,” noted daSILVA principal Paul Whitson. “The layout, materials, and integrated technology allow all users to exchange information efficiently.”
Doctors’ offices connect directly to the ICU, facilitating the flow of diagnoses and treatment options between staff. The ICU includes a chemo-pharmacy as well as a dialysis room, fellow’s room, staff lounge, and conference room. Opaque glass subdivides the waiting room into private areas for each family.
daSILVA Architects pc is a 35-person, full service architectural planning and consulting firm specializing in educational, institutional, laboratory, and residential projects. The firm has designed facilities for hospitals, universities, colleges, companies, and research laboratories throughout the northeast regional area. <Read about this project>