ST. LOUIS – HOK has been named executive architect on the long-term project to renew the medical center campus on Kingshighway Boulevard, which encompasses Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.
HOK, a global design and planning firm with an extensive health care project portfolio, has earned a reputation for designing health care facilities, including several previous projects at the medical center that support superior patient outcomes. “HOK brings a strong understanding of the legacy of care on this campus,” said Robert Cannon, BJC group president responsible for design and construction. “As a St. Louis-based company, HOK also appreciates the significance to the community of a project of this magnitude.”
“We are putting together a premier team that can understand and further our goals of quality patient care, teaching and medical research at our academic medical center,” said Richard Liekweg, Barnes-Jewish Hospital president. “Our hospitals have a rich history of providing the finest medical care possible and with this project we want to create an environment and experience for our patients that match that excellent care.”
“HOK is honored to have been selected by these distinguished institutions,” said Rebecca Nolan, managing principal of HOK in St. Louis. “This project represents one of the most significant building programs in the region. It will generate hundreds of new jobs and stimulate millions of dollars in economic growth.”
Chuck Siconolfi, AIA, ACHA, HOK’s director health care planning and design, envisions a future in which scientific, technological and operational advances will continuously improve patient outcomes and quality of experience. “BJC's project is an opportunity to use these advances to redefine the highest delivery of care standards in the nation,” he said.
"This is a unique opportunity to create environments that will transform the delivery of care while also enhancing the bond between BJC and the community it serves,” said Bill Hellmuth, AIA, HOK’s president and design director on the project. To further enhance this community connection, BJC is committed to ensuring the design of the project is sensitive to the medical center’s heritage and that the project creates opportunities for minority and women owned businesses.
BJC’s selection committee cited HOK's experience designing some of the world's most transformative health care facilities. These projects include the Barnes-Jewish Center for Advanced Medicine in St. Louis; the LA County + USC Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion in Los Angeles; St. Bartholomew’s and The Royal London Hospitals in London; Kaiserslautern Military Community Medical Center in Germany; University Medical Center of Princeton in Plainsboro, New Jersey; and the expansion of the Ohio State University Medical Center campus in Columbus, Ohio.
The long-term vision is to transform the medical center campus through renovation and new construction. The first phase will concentrate on the north campus and includes an expansion of St. Louis Children’s Hospital with enlarged diagnostics and treatment spaces and conversion of semi-private rooms to private rooms.
“Demand for pediatric services continues to grow and we are genuinely committed to doing what’s right for kids,” said Lee Fetter, president, St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “This renewal promises a significant impact on the way care is delivered for our patients and families for years to come.”
The unique needs of a teaching and research campus also will also be addressed in the renewal project. Additional space for university faculty practice clinics, community physician practices, diagnostic spaces and expanded clinical care at the Siteman Cancer Center and other surgical programs are included in the renovations.
“Our medical campus is an international destination for academic medicine and a national referral center,” said James Crane, M.D., associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs, Washington University School of Medicine. “This project represents an exciting opportunity for us to collaborate on an infrastructure that supports better coordination of patient care and ongoing fulfillment of our teaching and research mission.”
The campus renewal will extend over the next 10 years. In addition to the phase one transition of the north side of the campus, the south end of the campus will undergo renovation and construction with a focus on increased critical care capabilities and additional private inpatient rooms, along with development of programs in medical and surgical services.
Both phases of the project will incorporate significant improvements to parking, traffic flow and wayfinding for patients.
Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital are members of BJC HealthCare, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States. Both hospitals are affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine.
HOK is a global architectural firm that provides planning and design solutions for high performance, sustainable buildings and communities. Through its collaborative network of 25 offices worldwide, the firm delivers design excellence and innovation to clients globally. Founded in 1955, HOK's expertise includes architecture, engineering, interiors, strategic facility planning, consulting, lighting, graphics, and construction services. DesignIntelligence ranked HOK as the No. 1 role model for sustainable and high performance design.
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