DAI is working with Winchester Hospital on two laboratory projects.  One is located at the hospital’s main campus in Winchester, MA, and the second in West Cummings Park in Woburn, MA.  These laboratory renovations are necessary to keep in step with Winchester Hospital’s commitment to improve patient care in the community.  Construction for both projects is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2013.

The first project, the off-site Winchester  Hospital Core Laboratory, consists of  upgrades to improve quality, safety,  workflow and testing capacity to best serve the current and future demand for laboratory testing.  Project elements for this 13,000 square foot lab include an entire renovation with new lab benches and work counters and the relocation of current equipment to improve staff work flow and efficiency.  This project is uniquely intricate because all staff and laboratory functions must remain operational throughout the entire  construction process.  As a result, this project is being completed in multiple phases. Lab functions for this satellite include Cytology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Molecular                               Diagnostics, and Hematology.

The second laboratory project, the Winchester Hospital Rapid Response Laboratory, located at the hospital’s Main Campus, consists of expanding testing activity into the immediately adjacent 5,380 square foot suite and renovating the space to provide a continuous testing space.  In addition, implementation of full lab automation in chemistry and the application of Lean workflow processes for all testing departments are being implemented. The renovation will enhance work-flow for current testing and improve safety for employees, as well as provide sufficient capacity for continued test volume growth in the future with the implementation of the automation system.  Similar to the Core Laboratory, the Rapid Response Laboratory also requires careful phasing to ensure that staff is able to perform work functions while construction is underway.

DAI is currently serving as the Architect, Engineer and Interior Designer for the design of new Assisted Living Residences, a Memory Care Residence and an Outpatient Rehabilitation Center with a Therapy and Lap Pool for D’Youville Life & Wellness Community in Lowell, MA.  Additionally, a fitness center including a twenty yard lap pool will connect to both the Assisted Living Residence and the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center.

The project includes the design of sixty new assisted living residence apartments, fifteen of which will be of a distinct neighborhood dedicated to Memory Care with family style dining, a secure outdoor garden and walking path. The balance of the forty five apartments will be complimented with common space to facilitate social gatherings, physical fitness and fine dining.

The design offers many destinations, encouraging residents to stay more active, involved and engaged.  D’Youville envisioned a campus providing additional levels of care and service.  The principles of evidence based design will be integrated with use of natural light, appropriate needs for wayfinding, and the use of elder friendly finishes and furnishings.

The goal was to create an aesthetic balance on the D’Youville Campus with a building exterior carefully designed integrate with the content of the existing structures.  The environment promotes wellness and interaction and encourages residents to be active, social and independent.

DAI is working with Campbell Construction on the renovation and addition of an existing boat house located at the United States Coast Guard Station Jones Beach in Freeport, New York.

These renovations are necessary to accommodate new Coast Guard boats at the facility.  Included in the scope of this renovation is raising the roof, providing access doors and modernizing the MEP systems.

One of the challenges the team faced during this project was decreasing the construction duration so that the Coast Guard facility would remain operational with little to no down time.  This was accomplished through adhering to the strict compressed timeline set with the client and minimizing the number of contractors on site by minimizing material suppliers and construction specialties.

In 2008, DAI embarked on the development of a new facility master plan with Millinocket Regional Hospital (MRH).  DAI worked with the hospital’s senior administrative and clinical staff to examine their program priorities, including the Emergency Department, Patient Waiting/Registration, Medical Surgical bed suite, MEP infrastructure upgrades, equipment and interiors assessments throughout the facility.  Planning centered on staff and patient flow, patient privacy, safety, and patient family centered care.

Phase II of the Facility Master Plan includes implementation of patient area renovation priorities.

DAI is currently working with Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center on this fast-paced fit-out project consisting of 5,200 square feet.  The expansion will allow for the creation of nine exam rooms, physician offices, nurse stations, consult offices, staff lounge, a waiting room and reception area.

This one story project has an accelerated schedule with ten total weeks of design from schematic design to construction documents.

This project is an example of a family medical home model, with behavioral health professionals intermixed with medical professionals.

DiGiorgio Associates Inc. is currently working with The Dimock Center on the renovation of approximately three stories (15,000 square feet) of their existing Community Health Center (CHC).  This project is funded by a HRSA Grant.

The Dimock Center serves as a nationally recognized model for providing comprehensive health and human services in an urban community.  It provides Boston residents with convenient access to quality health care that may otherwise be unavailable for the surrounding communities.

This project entails renovating space for a 16 exam room Adult Medicine Clinic, relocating an 8 exam room Eye Clinic, reconfiguring 3 exam rooms in existing OB/GYN clinic, adding 2 exam rooms in Pediatric Clinic and 2 pediatric operatories in the Dental Clinic.  Other elements include relocating Community Care, reconfiguring the Behavioral Health Clinic and adding a Physical Therapy Program.

Client goals for this project include incorporating the Patient Centered Medical Home model to expand patient programs (i.e. number of exam rooms) and improving the existing infrastructure.  Departments to be renovated within the CHC include common areas, dental suites, mental health counseling units, outpatient diagnostic facilities, primary care outpatient services and physical therapy.

DiGiorgio Associates Inc. (DAI) is working with Manet Community Health Center’s (MCHC) North Quincy location to renovate and enhance the model of care with input from management, clinical staff, the Board of Directors and its patients. Project goals were to enhance the patient experience, alleviate scheduling stress, address facility related issues, ensure patient satisfaction, improve operational functions and overcome existing barriers. All design decisions – from how the patient enters the building, to circulation and wayfinding, to the color palette – focused on enhancing the patient experience as one navigates through the center.

As you enter the center, you are greeted at a kiosk to direct you to your care provider. This personalized service will help guide the patient to registration, financial or the counseling center. On the first floor, to join the existing Family Medicine Center, the Center for Older Adults and the Pharmacy were incorporated. The 2nd and 3rd floor previously housed the administrative offices. The complete renovation of these levels will now house the Center for Primary Care in Public Housing, Vision and Specialty services. The common corridor is the “connector” to the community of services and will allow for private sub-waiting areas. On the exterior, DAI is also working with MCHC to provide an design study and to coordinate the renovation to incorporate the re-branding efforts of the organization.

The result of this innovative design will be a center the enhances the personal experience of the patient and caregivers while ensuring operational efficiency and optimal facility performance. The new MCHC Patient Centered Medical Home will be warm, inviting and safe, with all drivers determined by the focus groups in the programming phase; a healing environment that will address patient comfort with wayfinding, healing art, privacy, dignity and provider communication in a safe, secure environment. All services are accessible, integrated and patient centered.  The planning process facilitates the principles of lean process management in the clinical zones and evidence based design throughout the center.

The interiors team at DAI assisted Manet with the relocation of their administrative staff to an off-site facility by providing tenant fit-out information, floor plan and furnishing layouts.

The strong bond that was created between MCHC and the DAI team of architects, engineers and interior designers facilitated the branding and vision for Manet.  The project became a reality through the use of REVIT and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology and showcased design solutions through the use of digital media.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center partnered with DiGiorgio Associates Inc.  to provide Architectural, Engineering and Interior Design Services for an off-site Ambulatory Surgery Center. The team was tasked to design a space that was pediatric friendly, and patient-centered for age’s birth through twenty-three. Throughout the design process, the DAI team worked closely with CCMC management, caregivers, family members and surgeons.

This project consists of approximately 30,000 square feet of fit-out for four operating rooms and support space, including a Central Sterile Department.   As one enters the center, a greeter in the family waiting area is there to assist you with the registration process. The family waiting area offers comfortable seating, a nourishment area, Wi-Fi and ample day lighting. The environment is a family friendly space that embraces the healing process and supports the patient-centered values of CCMC.

The “theme” for the Pre-Operative Care Unit is derived from elements of nature, water, sky, wind and earth. Through the use of design elements the “theme” assists with way finding, embraces the principles of evidence-based design and fosters the patient experience. Healing art is used as an architectural element in the recovery bays at the footwall.

In the Operating Room, the CCMC logo is a visible part of the floor detail. The DAI team embraced the project drivers in the design of this state-of-the-art center. Planning was guided through the principles of lean process management in the clinical areas, to maximize efficiency, minimize interruptions and ensure a safe patient care environment. Proper use of finishes addresses the concern of healthcare-associated infection.

The Post-Operative Care Unit  incorporates the elements of “earth and wind” as represented by the Ginkgo leaf that symbolizes longevity, hope, resilience and peace. The key drivers of the planning and design process were to provide a positive patient-centered experience and improved patient outcomes.

The Ambulatory Surgery Center design strives to bring meaning, interest and comfort to those who the health center provides surgical services. The result of this innovative design is a facility that enhances the personal experience of ambulatory patients, families, and caregivers, while ensuring operational efficiency and optimal facility performance.

[Show as slideshow]

DAI started our work at Scandinavian Home in 2007. Our first assignment was a master plan and engineering assessment of the existing Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) and Assisted Living Residence (ALR).  Over the intervening years, multiple options were developed and reviewed.  A final Master Plan was developed and accepted in 2012.

The plan will expand the current social activity spaces in the ALR.  A new Dining Room will be constructed along with a new outdoor terrace dining.  The existing Dining Room will be renovated into a new Community Room which will provide needed resident activity and social space.  The architecture of the addition will be respectful of the existing iconic campus wayfinding element that the current Dining Room provides.  A resident Wellness Center will be created on the second floor in existing space that will be renovated to appropriately accommodate this popular and vital activity.  A new rooftop mechanical system will be designed by our in-house engineers and will incorporate the renovated Community Room.

The plan for the SNF includes relocation and renovation of Nursing Stations and Resident Activity areas on both nursing units.  Each Nursing Unit will receive a complete aesthetic upgrade provided by DAI’s in-house Interiors staff.  New office space will be created on the ground floor along with a re-imagined main Dining Room. A relocated and expanded Rehabilitation Room will be located on the Second Floor.  Existing MEP systems will be revised where necessary by DAI Engineering.

Schematic Design has been completed and Design Development/Construction Documents are currently underway.  Construction is anticipated to begin in late Spring of 2013.

DAI has partnered with Sanctuary Care, LLC, to develop a one-story Memory Care Living  Facility in Rye, New Hampshire.  Key elements of the Memory Care Living Facility are a    distinctive entrance and lobby, sitting area, dining, library, and activities area.

Sanctuary Care had developed a preliminary program and conceptual documents defining the proposed footprint of the facility along with conducting a marketplace area study. They also met with State Licensing Officials. The  facility will have 805 state licensing (higher acuity).

The single story structure will have two wings attached to a central core. These wings will house a kitchen, activity space, and resident rooms. The residential living space will consist of 56 spacious units, one third of which will be semi-private spaces.  In the semi-private suites, the residents will share the bathroom space.

Along with the development of the residential spaces within the wings, this structure will also consist of 6,620 square feet of community space. The total scope of the project is estimated at 38,500 square feet with an  estimated construction cost of $7 million.  Construction began in the Summer of 2012 and is currently in progress.

The facility will utilize standard construction systems for the resident apartments, and a combination of panelized and truss construction for the common areas. Applying the appropriate elements of “green” design to this project is one of Sanctuary Care’s top  priorities.

[Show as slideshow]

*Renderings by Onion 3D Design