The one-story, 8,000 square-foot clinic was built northeast of the existing hospital building at the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center Campus. The design parameters called for a main entry that presents a welcoming transition from the landscaped outdoors to the efficient interior spaces, and creates a landmark for patients to identify the building entry. The new building entrance provides a recognizable, formal entry that makes efficient use of existing patient circulation, largely from the parking areas to the north and east.
“Our team approached this project with sensitivity to blending the new project’s exterior appearance with the existing hospital campus,” said Tim Rubesh of KMA. “Recognizable visual elements of the hospital have been scaled down in our design for the new clinic, though subtle differences — such as the new building’s exterior color scheme — make it an identifiable landmark.”
The interior design plan provides functionally efficient, cost-effective layout for staff and patient circulation with the ability to add a future second story addition. Diagnostic and treatment rooms have been sized and configured in accordance with demographic data to comfortably accommodate patients and staff. In addition, carefully-placed exterior windows enhance the healing environment experience by creating small vistas for the patients from the interior to the soothing landscaping outdoors, which required reconfiguration of berms, swales and sidewalks adjacent to the new building footprint area.
“Helping to maintain the healing environment experience, we’ve designed meandering sidewalks that offer patients, visitors and staff circulation through a park-like setting,” Rubesh continued. “These pathways were extended for an enhanced experience including outdoor seating with overlooks and an adjacent pond, which are easily accessible for patients coming from the parking lot to the front door.”
The KMA project team includes Tim Rubesh and Alison Warren.
Other services were provided by:
· Structural and Civil Engineer: Burkett & Wong
· Electrical Engineer: Elen Consulting
· Mechanical Engineer: DSE Engineering, Inc.
· Landscape Architect: Cresere Design
· Interior Design: Young & Company
· General Contractor: Teehee/Straub Joint Venture
Headquartered in San Diego, KMA has provided integrated architectural, engineering and planning services throughout Southern California and the Western United States since 1973. The company's services include site selection assistance, land planning, programming, scheduling, project design, mechanical and plumbing engineering, field supervision and construction administration. KMA also offers Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) accredited professionals with expertise in the development of sustainable, high-performance buildings. KMA’s design project ResMed won People’s Choice Orchid in the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s annual Orchids & Onions Awards. For more information please call 619- 276-7710 or visit www.kma-ae.com.
