El Paso County Hospital District, also known as University Medical Center (UMC), passed a bond in 2013 to expand its services by adding additional community-based clinics. The first of these to be designed was UMC West Clinic, which is serving as the prototype for the planned network of clinics.
The West Clinic is designed around a modular pod for long-term flexibility in uses and scheduling. The pods accommodate primary and specialty care. There is a separate module for a laboratory and diagnostic imaging, which includes MRI, CT, X-ray, mammography, ultrasound, and bone density scans. The facility also includes a pharmacy, and a centering pregnancy space that doubles as a multipurpose community room. The West Clinic also includes a rehabilitation area to accommodate local demographics, which is currently unique to that clinic.
The East Clinic is a site-adapted version of the prototype and is identical in every way, providing not only economies in design, construction, equipment, and maintenance, but also in processes for staff familiarity, efficiency, and patient safety.
Both facilities are close to 45,000 square feet. They have an “off-stage” back hallway for staff which includes a staff break room with large windows, staff lockers, and other back-of-house support spaces. Within the clinic modules, there are no permanent doctor offices. Instead, provider alcoves were designed adjacent to each pod’s central nurse station. This arrangement saves providers steps — and time — between patients, fosters interaction across the care team, yet also gives the providers a quiet place for focused work. The Page team also designed light monitors to be positioned above the nurse stations, allowing the usage of natural light while restricting solar heat gain and glare.
Architecturally, the buildings reinforce the existing UMC visual identity by using many of the same materials and elements used at the front door and lobby of the hospital that anchors the health care network, providing patients with a sense of familiarity. However, as one-story clinics, the design also incorporates elements such as a central waiting room supported by a distinctive butterfly roof that offers daylighting and views of the nearby mountains.
The project team was comprised of Page in collaboration with Carl Daniels Architects, program manager Broaddus & Associates and general contractor Hensel Phelps. HKN performed the structural engineering; Moreno Cardenas served as civil engineer, MEP was provided by RBM and Sites Southwest served as landscape architect. In addition to architectural design, Page provided programming, planning and interior design services.
