IU Health West Hospital Vertical Expansion

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IU Health

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Avon, Indiana

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133,350 SF

This image shows a modern cafeteria space or break room at IU Health West. The space features multiple white and light wood tables surrounded by pale blue chairs with wooden legs, where several people are seated working on laptops or having conversations. The ceiling incorporates striking linear wood slats with integrated LED lighting that creates visual interest and warmth. A navy blue subway tile accent wall serves as a dramatic backdrop, complemented by white walls displaying nature-themed artwork featuring green grasses or reeds. The flooring appears to be a textured carpet in neutral tones, and the overall color palette combines cool blues and grays with warm wood accents.

This image shows a sophisticated modern office cafeteria or break room with a sleek, contemporary design at IU Health West. The space features a dramatic ceiling treatment with parallel wood slats integrated with LED linear lighting that creates visual warmth and interest. The room includes multiple seating areas with round white tables surrounded by pale blue chairs with wooden legs. A serving counter with modern appliances and food displays runs along the left side, while a stone accent wall adds natural texture to the space. Large windows with views to the exterior bring in natural light, and colorful abstract artwork adorns the white walls. The flooring appears to be large format tiles in a neutral tone, and the overall design palette combines warm wood tones with cool grays and blues to create an inviting, healing dining environment.

Two people meet at a modern marble table with navy blue chairs in the contemporary lobby of IU Health West Hospital, featuring a striking wood-paneled ceiling with recessed lighting, large windows overlooking adjacent buildings, and warm wood accents throughout the space. The open floor plan connects to additional seating areas and corridors, with decorative artwork on the walls and polished stone flooring creating an welcoming healthcare environment.

This image shows a modern multi-purpose space that combines a casual work area with adjacent conference facilities at IU Health West. The main area features white tables with black mesh chairs where people can work individually or in small groups, including a man seated at a table using a tablet. A striking blue accent wall displays three framed landscape photographs and includes built-in bench seating with green upholstery for informal meetings or relaxation. Large floor-to-ceiling windows provide abundant natural light and views of the surrounding residential neighborhood. The space flows seamlessly into a glass-enclosed conference room with blue carpeting and wall-mounted displays, while gray patterned carpet in the circulation areas helps define different zones. The design creates a flexible environment that supports various work styles, from focused individual tasks to collaborative meetings, all within a bright, contemporary setting that promotes both productivity and comfort.

This image depicts a modern waiting area at IU Health West with a contemporary design featuring a striking blue accent wall that displays colorful abstract artwork with flowing, organic patterns in warm tones of orange and yellow. A woman sits comfortably on a sectional sofa upholstered in coordinating blue tones with geometric striped patterns, using her mobile device. The space includes a wall-mounted flat-screen TV and large floor-to-ceiling windows that provide views of brick buildings outside and allow natural light to fill the area.

This image shows a modern, well-appointed hospital patient room designed with both functionality and comfort in mind. The room features a fully adjustable hospital bed with clean white linens and a patterned throw pillow, positioned near a large window that provides natural light and views of the landscaped grounds outside. A comfortable blue sleeper chair offers seating for visitors or family members staying overnight, while built-in wood cabinetry with a white countertop provides storage and workspace. The room includes essential medical equipment mounted on the wall behind the bed, including monitoring systems and medical gas outlets, as well as a wall-mounted television for patient entertainment. The en-suite bathroom is visible through a doorway, and the overall design uses warm wood tones, soothing blue accents, and neutral colors to create a healing environment that feels more like a hotel room than a traditional clinical setting.

A modern hospital laboratory at IU Health West Hospital features multiple workstations with computer terminals, laboratory equipment, and storage systems arranged in an open floor plan. The clean, white environment includes adjustable office chairs, overhead shelving for supplies and reference materials, mobile carts for equipment transport, and large windows providing natural light, while a technician works at one of the stations surrounded by the specialized equipment needed for medical testing and analysis.

An IU Health healthcare worker in blue scrubs operates a large automated pharmacy dispensing system called

A BSA engineer in a white hard hat and dark jacket inspects a row of large industrial HVAC units housed in a mechanical room. The equipment appears to be rooftop air conditioning or ventilation units with prominent circular fans and yellow control components, all mounted on a concrete platform. The room features metal louvers along the windows for ventilation, stainless steel wall panels, and a concrete floor, creating a typical hospital building mechanical space environment.

This image shows a sophisticated mechanical equipment room or boiler plant featuring large-scale HVAC infrastructure. The space contains multiple industrial boilers, chillers, and heating equipment with extensive piping systems, including both insulated and uninsulated pipes running throughout the ceiling and connecting various components. The equipment appears to be a mix of newer and older units, with beige and gray color schemes, and includes various gauges, control panels, and safety equipment. The room has an exposed ceiling with visible ductwork and lighting fixtures, concrete flooring, and white tile walls that provide a clean, functional environment for maintenance access. This type of mechanical room is designed specifically for IU Health West, where centralized heating, cooling, and hot water systems are essential for building operations.

A large industrial boiler system dominates this mechanical room, featuring a cylindrical pressure vessel with gray insulation blankets and blue mechanical components. The unit is equipped with yellow safety railings and platforms for maintenance access, along with various pumps, valves, and control systems mounted on a concrete pad. The facility has an exposed ceiling structure with industrial lighting, concrete block walls, and is part of the IU Health West Hospital building's heating plant.

This image showcases the exterior of a modern healthcare facility, featuring a multi-story brick building with distinctive architectural elements including prominent glass curtain wall sections and white limestone accent bands. The building combines traditional red brick construction with contemporary design features, creating a professional and welcoming appearance. In the foreground, a beautifully landscaped courtyard area includes a tranquil water feature with natural stone elements, a small waterfall, and reflective pools that create a peaceful healing environment. Two people are walking along the concrete pathway that winds through the landscaped area, which is enhanced with mature trees and lush plantings. The outdoor space serves as a therapeutic garden, providing patients, visitors, and staff with a serene place for reflection and respite, while the building's design balances institutional functionality with human-scale comfort and natural beauty.

Hospital Vertical Expansion

When IU Health West opened, it was the first suburban hospital for this healthcare system. However, IU Health decided to expand due to the need for more space.

Because vertical expansion had been considered a possibility in the hospital’s original plan, the facility was engineered to accommodate additional floors. Still, there were challenges to that upward growth, including considerable changes in building codes over the dozen years since the facility was initially built, the increased size of mechanical systems over time, and new standards for air handling. BSA assessed alternatives to vertical expansion in its master planning process, but land limitations restricted other options, so “up” indeed proved to be the way forward.

To accommodate vertical expansion, BSA relocated some rooftop mechanical equipment and designed around other equipment, leaving it in place. This approach created a flex floor with offices, serving as a buffer between the mechanical and surgical spaces.
Delivered in an Integrated Design Event (IDE) style, this hands-on, focused approach utilized full-size mock-ups, allowing for brainstorming of ideas and challenging the status quo. This approach empowered users to embrace the design, meaning they were active participants in the decision-making process, rather than just providing periodic feedback on the design process outside of their control.

This Lean approach to design also allowed for the testing of the seven flows of healthcare. This challenged the existing facility solution and the current operational approach to clinical services, identifying operational savings as well as potential opportunities for patient and staff satisfaction. Patient care spaces were studied in greater detail. Opportunities were considered to increase access to daylight, communication between caregivers and the patient, and improve wayfinding.

Raise the Roof Integrated Design Event video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc1jAxCoaBg

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Disciplines

Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Planning

Project Contact

Impact of Design on Teamwork and Communication

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Keith Smith

IU Health West Hospital Vertical Expansion

Hospital Vertical Expansion

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