The new award-winning Florida Hospital for Women, Orlando Campus will eventually have 336 licensed beds in the patient bed tower and represents the pinnacle of women’s healthcare while overlooking calming and lushly landscaped gardens and grounds while serving women’s health needs through all stages of their lives.
The new bed tower is flowing, elegant, and playful, seemingly rising from an adjacent pool of water at the center of the health village campus—in welcome contrast to angular and conventional construction of the main hospital tower. For those seeking healing and respite, it will be distinguished as a beacon of hope, light, and wellness.
Goals
Growing research demonstrates that patients recover faster and better from illness or surgery in settings that offer abundant daylight and views to the outdoors. Architectural design that provides these features is proven to correlate with reduced medication intake and shorter recovery periods, thereby improving patient outcomes and quickening room turnaround times.
The design team, including HKS Architects and interior design firm Stantec, took this knowledge into consideration when selecting window treatments for the patient rooms and common areas.
Solutions
MechoSystems provided motorized DoubleShades® for patient rooms, along with ThermoVeil® shadecloth for advanced solar heat control and Classic Blackout shadecloth for improved rest, privacy, and room-darkening at any time of day. The system can be easily operated by patients with a pillow switch, similar to adjusting the overhead light or TV volume, or calling for assistance. Wall controls in the family zone allow visitors and staff the ability to adjust the motorized shades. MechoSystems also has the capability for providing control of motorized shades via an automated shading control system that allows for staff override at the nurse’s stations or connection to building automation systems. Automation ensures effective daylighting integration, management of glare, and control of solar radiation via predictive modeling and real-time sky monitoring.
Common areas of the Florida Hospital for Women at Orlando Campus use manual solar shades to provide ample natural light while minimizing heat gain, thereby ensuring visitor comfort while reducing energy costs in the waiting areas/lounges.
Results
For this project, Window Interiors, a MechoSystems dealer and associate, won Florida’s regional Associated Builders and Contractors Eagle Award in 2016, also a testament to the work of the architects, designers, installers, and MechoSystems in the successful window treatments used at the Florida Hospital for Women at Orlando Campus.
MechoSystems’ 10-year non-depreciating warranty—along with the antimicrobial shadecloth’s 20-year lifespan—will ensure the Florida Hospital for Women in Orlando will serve patients, promote healing solutions, and gain energy savings far into the future.
For more information, visit MechoShade.com/healthcare or email marketingLIC.
Related Stories
| May 8, 2014
Door knob code revisions generating controversy
The City of Vancouver’s ban on doorknobs in all new buildings, which went into effect last month, has drawn a strong reaction from the public and heated debate across Canada as other jurisdictions consider the measure.
| Apr 16, 2014
Upgrading windows: repair, refurbish, or retrofit [AIA course]
Building Teams must focus on a number of key decisions in order to arrive at the optimal solution: repair the windows in place, remove and refurbish them, or opt for full replacement.
| Apr 2, 2014
8 tips for avoiding thermal bridges in window applications
Aligning thermal breaks and applying air barriers are among the top design and installation tricks recommended by building enclosure experts.
| Mar 12, 2014
14 new ideas for doors and door hardware
From a high-tech classroom lockdown system to an impact-resistant wide-stile door line, BD+C editors present a collection of door and door hardware innovations.
| Mar 5, 2014
5 tile design trends for 2014
Beveled, geometric, and high-tech patterns are among the hot ceramic tile trends, say tile design experts.
| Feb 27, 2014
Integrity Introduces Insert Double Hung Replacement Window
Integrity from Marvin Windows and Doors continues to lead in the Remodel & Replace market with the introduction of the new Wood-Ultrex Insert Double Hung. Combining the strength of Ultrex® pultruded fiberglass, beautiful wood interiors and a fit for any opening, the Wood-Ultrex Insert Double Hung is quite possibly the perfect insert replacement window.
| Jan 30, 2014
See how architects at NBBJ are using computational design to calculate the best views on projects [video]
In an ideal world, every office employee would have a beautiful view from his or her desk. While no one can make that happen in real life, computational design can help architects maximize views from every angle.
| Jan 8, 2014
New materials should help boost sustainability in cities by 2020
Newer developments include windows made with nano-crystals that control intense heat penetration while lighting living areas from the outside.
| Dec 26, 2013
WDMA launches project to create ISO-compliant architectural doors
WDMA's National Architectural Door Council has initiated a project to create ISO-compliant Product Category Rules for architectural wood flush and stile and rail doors
| Dec 20, 2013
Panda Windows & Doors exhibits new patented drainage track system at the 2014 NAHB International Builders Show in Las Vegas
Panda Windows & Doors, a Las Vegas based manufacturing company that specializes in innovative sliding and folding glass door systems, will be exhibiting its latest developments at the 2014 NAHB International Builders Show taking place in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendees who are keen about the art of glass walls can stop by booth #S1447 from February 4-6 and even be taken on a round-trip tour to the factory, courtesy of the company.
