The first prefabricated operating room in the world with fully automated disinfection technology opened recently at the University of Rochester Medicine Orthopedics Surgery Center in Henrietta, N.Y. The facility, developed in a former Sears store, features a system designed by Synergy Med, called Clean Cube, that had never been applied to an operating space before.
The components of the Clean Cube operating room were custom premanufactured and then shipped to the site to be assembled. The system was installed in a few weeks. It is composed of modular glass walls that are easier to clean than drywall or stainless steel, and hermetically sealed doors. All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are incorporated into the walls and ceiling. Air handling systems tailored for medical use and automated disinfection systems create a sterile field of air around the patient during surgery.
Development of the Clean Cube system was motivated by a 1 in 25 rate of hospital-acquired infections. The technology is billed as delivering “near-perfect disinfection” to the operating room.
The opening of the Orthopedic Surgery Center completes phase 2 of the 350,000 sf University of Rochester Orthopedic & Physical Performance Center. The delivery of the next phase, a four-story rehab and sports performance center that will include a grand courtyard and sports rehab services, is on track for completion in fall 2023.
“The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) will be a defining healthcare project for the country,” says Scott Hansche, principal with SLAM, architect of record for the project. “From a former Sears department store to a world-leading surgery center, we are addressing healthcare equity gaps with quality design and innovation,” Hansche says.
Project team:
Owner and/or developer: Wilmorite
Design architect: Perkins&Will's New York studio
Architect of record: The S/L/A/M Collaborative
Local Associate Architect: Dwyer Architectural
MEP/IT Engineer : ME Engineering
Structural Engineer: Jensen BRV
General contractor/construction manager: Le Chase
Civil Engineer and Landscape Architect: Bergmann Associates
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 13, 2023
Healthcare construction costs for 2023
Data from Gordian breaks down the average cost per square foot for a three-story hospital across 10 U.S. cities.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 13, 2023
Urgent care facilities: Intentional design for mental and behavioral healthcare
The emergency department (ED) is the de-facto front door for behavior health crises, and yet these departments are understaffed, overwhelmed, and ill-equipped to navigate the layered complexities of highly demanding physical and behavioral health needs.
Urban Planning | Apr 12, 2023
Watch: Trends in urban design for 2023, with James Corner Field Operations
Isabel Castilla, a Principal Designer with the landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations, discusses recent changes in clients' priorities about urban design, with a focus on her firm's recent projects.
Market Data | Apr 11, 2023
Construction crane count reaches all-time high in Q1 2023
Toronto, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver top the list of U.S/Canadian cities with the greatest number of fixed cranes on construction sites, according to Rider Levett Bucknall's RLB Crane Index for North America for Q1 2023.
Contractors | Apr 10, 2023
What makes prefabrication work? Factors every construction project should consider
There are many factors requiring careful consideration when determining whether a project is a good fit for prefabrication. JE Dunn’s Brian Burkett breaks down the most important considerations.
Architects | Apr 6, 2023
New tool from Perkins&Will will make public health data more accessible to designers and architects
Called PRECEDE, the dashboard is an open-source tool developed by Perkins&Will that draws on federal data to identify and assess community health priorities within the U.S. by location. The firm was recently awarded a $30,000 ASID Foundation Grant to enhance the tool.
Sustainability | Apr 4, 2023
NIBS report: Decarbonizing the U.S. building sector will require massive, coordinated effort
Decarbonizing the building sector will require a massive, strategic, and coordinated effort by the public and private sectors, according to a report by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS).
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 26, 2023
UC Davis Health opens new eye institute building for eye care, research, and training
UC Davis Health recently marked the opening of the new Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute Building and the expansion of the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC). Located in Sacramento, Calif., the Eye Center provides eye care, vision research, and training for specialists and investigators. With the new building, the Eye Center’s vision scientists can increase capacity for clinical trials by 50%.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 25, 2023
California medical center breaks ground on behavioral health facility for both adults and children
In San Jose, Calif., Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) has broken ground on a new behavioral health facility: the Child, Adolescent, and Adult Behavioral Health Services Center. Designed by HGA, the center will bring together under one roof Santa Clara County’s behavioral health offerings, including Emergency Psychiatric Services and Urgent Care.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 22, 2023
New Jersey’s new surgical tower features state’s first intraoperative MRI system
Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center recently opened its 530,000-sf Helena Theurer Pavilion, a nine-story surgical and intensive care tower designed by RSC Architects and Page. The county’s first hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, a 781-bed nonprofit teaching and research hospital, was founded in 1888.
