The project: The new ambulatory care center replaces SSM Health’s former eye care facility with a new, state-of-the art facility that provides ambulatory surgery center services and additional capabilities. The facility includes eight operating rooms and associated support spaces designed to be used by multiple specialties to allow for the most flexibility in scheduling various surgeries. The new center provides easy access for patients needing eye surgery, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, and pain procedure cases.

The goal: Design a leading-edge outpatient center that provides patients and staff with modern and state-of-the-art facilities, prioritizes cost-effective solutions to maximize patient and staff experiences and safety, minimizes stress and anxiety of patients with a good patient flow, and accommodates staff needs with an efficient layout.

Project approach: The design team followed an Integrated Care Team Model to provide a state-of-the-art facility for patients and staff. This approach prioritized patients and other customers and ensured quality design throughout the project.

Sustainability highlights: The site includes a 1MW carport photovoltaic system and a 750kW generator to provide back-up for the new facility and prepare for future expansions. The project is pursuing Well Building Certification (Gold minimum) and was designed to achieve an Energy Star score of 80 or greater.

The outcome: The new center provides easier access to traditional clinical healthcare services along with eye-care and cutting edge surgeries and procedures to advance eye-care in the Wisconsin region to the next level. The new facility also provides adequate space for future building growth, spacious parking with off-street access, plenty of handicap accessible parking and bike parking and walking paths to the clinic.