The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Pavilion at Danbury Hospital added approximately 300,000 SF of new construction to the existing campus – the largest expansion in the hospital’s history. The exterior landscape was centered on an “Oasis” concept. Vehicular circulation is organized around a central water feature that serves as a healing garden, as well as a traffic rotary. The significant landscape improvements around the main entrance, connecting patients and visitors to the adjacent expanded garage, which was also part of the project, provides easier wayfinding and a beautiful backdrop for patient rooms. By vertically organizing the tower, all patient rooms now feature views of the new landscape and/or panoramic views of the hillside vista and downtown Danbury. A glass curtainwall system allows ample daylight, while glazing helps reduce heat gain.
2010 was a watershed year for 125-year-old Danbury Hospital: it worked closely with Planetree™ to strengthen core values of providing patient-centered care; merged with New Milford Hospital to form the Western Connecticut Health Network; and, embarked on the largest expansion in the hospital’s history, which became the catalyst for a master plan a year later.
After a significant master planning effort was completed by SLAM, it was evident that a new tower addition would provide the living framework for master plan implementation – including a new ED, surgical suite, private patient beds, significant circulation and landscape improvements, and much more.
Danbury Hospital is located in a dense hilly residential neighborhood near the heart of downtown Danbury. Prior to construction, the hospital had numerous entry points along all of its frontage on Hospital Avenue, Locust Avenue and Osborne Street. Several disparate services were consolidated into a single location to more clearly define and better support the overall institution’s greater focus on patient-centered care. The separation of the main entry and emergency entry allows for improved site circulation by creating clear destinations and avoiding the combination of conflicting traffic patterns. The existing garage, which abuts the two areas, was redesigned to allow vehicular access from both entries, creating an on-site connection and allowing for a single, shared pedestrian access from the garage into the new lobby.
The project has truly delivered on its intended goals. The tower has freed up space on campus, allowing Danbury Hospital to re-organize several departments to maximize operational efficiency. Patients and staff have raved about the facility, HCAHPS scores have improved, and the community has been able to take great pride in the success of the project.
We are poised for a very bright future, which includes expanding and upgrading to the latest technologies in order to enhance clinical care and privacy for patients and their families.
“We have recognized that healthcare takes place at levels beyond patient medical needs; it’s become as much about making the process easier, more accommodating and less stressful. As patients and families are educated about their options for choice, the ability to shop for care, the competition for market share becomes increasingly important as does providing the optimal experience.”