JAMES RIVER ARCHITECTS - SENTARA NORFOLK GENERAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EXPANSION AND RENOVATIONS

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Emergency
Department Expansion & Renovations

James River Architects was selected for the complex renovation/expansion of the existing emergency department at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. One of the most critical pieces of this project was to keep the facility operational during all phases of construction. To achieve this, James River Architects was required to design a multi-phased concept that not only kept the department functioning, but also in full code compliance at all times.
After meticulously reviewing existing construction documents, touring the facility and listening to many department heads, staff, nurses and physicians, we began the design process by diagramming the written program and overlaying the criteria for phasing. After the diagrams were accepted, schematic design was completed and a scale model was created.
The critical care nursing station presented the problem of 25 professionals needing to work side by side in a limited space. To clearly depict this part of the design another model showing every chair, computer, medical device, cart storage and work surface was prepared.