HOK to design new Waterloo Eye Institute

The University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science has selected HOK to design the new Waterloo Eye Institute. The project will enhance and expand two floors of the existing School of Optometry & Vision Science building on the University of Waterloo’s campus.

The new, 67,000-sf institute will recreate the clinical patient care spaces and blend patient care with spaces for education and innovation. Specialty care services will include primary care and pediatric clinics, ocular health and contact lens clinics, low vision rehabilitation and research clinics, teleoptometry centers, an ambulatory ophthalmology surgical center, and research facilities dedicated to ocular imaging research and biomedical science.

“We look forward to bringing our expertise to serve such an innovative Canadian university and the broader community,” said Arash Farbahi, HOK Principal-in-Charge, in a release. “We will collaborate with School of Optometry & Vision Science Director Dr. Stanley Woo and the entire university community to design a new Eye Institute that will have a positive impact on patient care and wellness, both locally and nationally. Our next generation of clinicians and researchers will train here.”

Waterloo Eye Institute corner entrance

Waterloo Eye Institute lobby

Waterloo Eye Institute oculus

Waterloo Eye Institute main stair

Waterloo Eye Institute south facade

Rural hospitals present unique opportunities and challenges for healthcare facility operators. Oftentimes, the infrastructure and building systems have not been updated for years and require significant improvements in order to meet today’s modern medical demands. Additionally, as these smaller, more remote hospitals are acquired by larger regional and national healthcare systems, the first step by new ownership is often to update and rehabilitate the building. But how can this be done thoughtfully, economically, and efficiently in ways that allow the engineering and facility staff to adapt to the changes? And how can the updates accurately reflect the specific needs of rural communities and the afflictions with which these areas most commonly face?