Long gone are the days of drab and dull hospital interiors more conducive to raising patient nerves than squelching them.
Located in Michigan’s midsection, Mid-Michigan Health’s newest facility sought to not only be the center of the state, but an epicenter of patient care. Teaming up with the Midland, MI architectural firm Three Rivers Corporation and contractor SPACE, Inc., they put forth their plans for Mt. Pleasant’s medical hub.
“Mid-Michigan Health had a vision to create an ambulatory center of the future,” said John Hill, Project Architect at Three Rivers Corporation. “An ambulatory center with emergency treatment, specialty treatment and preventative care all in one patient-focused environment.”
Therein lies the key: patient-focused. The facility needed to have the right care options available, but to have the greatest patient experience possible, the call goes far beyond medical equipment. Hill said that “Unlike many healthcare facilities, the building’s goal was to feel warm, bright and inviting,” and their answer didn’t come from above.
“Three Rivers Corporation was in need of a wood-look sheet vinyl floor that would meet cost, have easy cleaning for a healthcare environment and replicate the look of wood as much as possible,” said Wes Kohn, Associate Architect at Three Rivers Corporation. “Altro Wood met all those desires while also providing warmth, comfort and load-bearing capabilities.”
Altro Wood sheet vinyl flooring, in colors Autumn Maple and Vintage Cherry, was chosen to bring that warm and homey feel Three Rivers Corporation and Mid-Michigan Health sought after. They installed 2400 square yards in multitudes of spaces: corridors and exam and patient rooms, including Emergency and Short Stay departments; Infusion, OB-GYN and Musculoskeletal Clinics; CT-Scan, X-Ray and all other imaging rooms; and the first floor’s semi-public and staff corridors.
According to the study of biophilic design, humans tend to feel better and more energetic when exposed to nature. Whether a patient’s window overlooks a garden or if their room’s design elements are inspired from the outdoors, biophilic design can aid in the healing process. Altro Wood’s resemblance to actual wood is a boon to biophilic design, able to aid healthcare facilities.
Competitive products had been specified for operating rooms and were in consideration for the corridors and other areas as well, but did not fit with Three Rivers Corporation and Mid-Michigan Health’s goal of looking less institutional.
The end users are overjoyed with the look of the flooring, and it suits their needs in both performance and aesthetic.
