Gresham Smith is proud to announce that renovations to the inpatient floor of the general tower at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina have finished, and the floor is open to patients. Completed alongside McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, the 27-room project is part of the multi-phase master renovation plan for the entire medical campus.
Designed with the nurses and clinical staff specifically in mind, the inpatient floor received significant upgrades to its safety features, layout, and amenities. The design team also wanted the space to demonstrate Novant Health’s strong ties to the Winston-Salem community, and crafted an entirely new interior design with local imagery.
“Through a continuation of our long-standing partnership with Novant Health, we are excited to deliver this new space for both the staff and Winston-Salem community,” said Gresham Smith Senior Associate Kristen Bell, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP. “Gresham Smith is intent on delivering the best patient experience possible, and this new inpatient floor will improve healthcare services for decades to come. We are proud of the entire team who contributed to its success.”
Throughout the floor, new signage and wayfinding provide clarity for patients, staff, and visitors; decentralized equipment and supply storage increases accessibility and enhances operational efficiencies; new signs outside patient rooms with space for warnings and other safety information promote patient safety; and additional space to accommodate overflow capacity when needed increases the hospital’s adaptability and flexibility. The patient rooms also include a ‘family zone,’ with sleeper sofas, allowing family members to remain safely and comfortably inside the room.
“One of the goals was to increase room size to provide adequate space for staff and create a dedicated family area in rooms. To do this, we had to redesign the existing floor layout and convert three existing patient rooms to two new rooms,” said Marcus Sheward, AIA, Principal, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture.
The interior palette uses lighter tones and large-scale graphics with local imagery to highlight Novant Health’s connection to the Winston-Salem community. Each patient room also features an accent wall, and different textures and colors are also used to identify destination areas, such as nursing stations.
“This state-of-the-art renovation will have an incredibly positive impact on our patients and team members for generations to come,” said Alisha Hutchens, vice president and chief operating officer at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center. “At every step in the process, Gresham Smith and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture have worked with us to take a truly patient centered approach in carefully redesigning all aspects of the inpatient floor including new and more spacious patient rooms. These changes will not only help to streamline care delivery, but also enhance the overall patient experience.”
Gresham Smith is also designing the critical care tower in partnership with McMillan Pazdan Smith at the medical campus, which is projected to open in late 2024.
