flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

New Jersey’s new surgical tower features state’s first intraoperative MRI system

Healthcare Facilities

New Jersey’s new surgical tower features state’s first intraoperative MRI system

The Helena Theurer Pavilion at Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center features 24 operating rooms, 175 medical beds, and New Jersey’s first intraoperative MRI system.


By Novid Parsi, Contributing Editor | March 22, 2023
New Jersey’s new surgical tower features state’s first intraoperative MRI system All photos courtesy Page
All photos courtesy Page

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.

The Pavilion features New Jersey’s first intraoperative MRI system, used during neurosurgical and neuro-interventional procedures to help neurosurgeons accurately remove tumors and treat conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. Of the facility’s 24 operating rooms, six have been designed to accommodate robotic-assisted surgery systems, allowing surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures that may reduce recovery time and improve outcomes. 

The Pavilion also includes the following: 

  • 72 post-anesthesia care unit beds and 50 intensive care unit (ICU) beds
  • 175 medical/surgical beds, including a Musculoskeletal Institute and intermediate care rooms
  • 12 negative-pressure rooms to reduce the risk of aerosolized disease transmission within the hospital
  • Six da Vinci robotic surgical systems, including four orthopedic robots for joint replacement procedures
  • All-private patient rooms

In addition, the entire building can be converted to a negative-pressure facility in the event of a future pandemic or public health emergency.

The Helena Theurer Pavilion incorporates features that enhance patient comfort, patient safety, and employee efficiency. These include dedicated CT imaging on the ICU floor, a monitor tablet outside each patient room for employees, in-room team workstations, and patient lift systems. 

“This is one of the largest hospital construction projects in the country, and we could not be more proud to advance healthcare for the communities we are privileged to serve,” Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, said in a statement.

On the Building Team:
Owner: Hackensack Meridian Health
Design and medical planning architect: Page
Architect of record (interior build-out of the Pavilion): Page
Architect of record (overall): RSC Architects
MEP: Syska Hennessy Group
Structural engineer: Reuther + Bowen
Construction manager: Blanchard Turner

 

New Jersey’s new surgical tower features state’s first intraoperative MRI system All photos courtesy Page

New Jersey’s new surgical tower features state’s first intraoperative MRI system All photos courtesy Page

New Jersey’s new surgical tower features state’s first intraoperative MRI system All photos courtesy Page

New Jersey’s new surgical tower features state’s first intraoperative MRI system All photos courtesy Page

Related Stories

Healthcare Facilities | Aug 1, 2023

Top 10 healthcare design projects for 2023

The HKS-designed Allegheny Health Network Wexford (Pa.) Hospital and Flad Architects' Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Venice (Fla.) highlight 10 projects to win 2023 Healthcare Design Awards from the American Institute of Architects Academy of Architecture for Health.

Designers | Jul 25, 2023

The latest 'five in focus' healthcare interior design trends

HMC Architects’ Five in Focus blog series explores the latest trends, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of healthcare design.

Market Data | Jul 24, 2023

Leading economists call for 2% increase in building construction spending in 2024

Following a 19.7% surge in spending for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings in 2023, leading construction industry economists expect spending growth to come back to earth in 2024, according to the July 2023 AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel. 

Healthcare Facilities | Jul 19, 2023

World’s first prefab operating room with fully automated disinfection technology opens in New York

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.

Sponsored | | Jul 12, 2023

Keyless Security for Medical Offices

Keeping patient data secure is a serious concern for medical professionals. Traditional lock-and-key systems do very little to help manage this problem, and create additional issues of their own. “Fortunately, wireless access control — a keyless alternative — eliminates the need for traditional physical keys while providing a higher level of security and centralized control,” says Cliff Brady, Salto Director of Industry Sectors Engagement, North America. Let’s explore how that works.

Healthcare Facilities | Jul 10, 2023

The latest pediatric design solutions for our tiniest patients

Pediatric design leaders Julia Jude and Kristie Alexander share several of CannonDesign's latest pediatric projects.

Healthcare Facilities | Jun 27, 2023

Convenience ranks highly when patients seek healthcare

Healthcare consumers are just as likely to factor in convenience as they do cost when deciding where to seek care and from whom, according to a new survey of 4,037 American adults about their attitudes and preferences as patients. The survey, conducted from April 19-28 by JLL, in many ways confirms the obvious: that older generations seek preventive care more often than younger generations; that insurance coverage is a primary driver for choosing a provider or hospital; and that the quality of service affects the patient experience.

Healthcare Facilities | Jun 27, 2023

A woman-led CM team manages the expansion and renovation of a woman-focused hospital in Nashville

This design-build project includes adding six floors for future growth.

Standards | Jun 26, 2023

New Wi-Fi standard boosts indoor navigation, tracking accuracy in buildings

The recently released Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11az enables more refined and accurate indoor location capabilities. As technology manufacturers incorporate the new standard in various devices, it will enable buildings, including malls, arenas, and stadiums, to provide new wayfinding and tracking features.

Healthcare Facilities | Jun 14, 2023

Design considerations for behavioral health patients

The surrounding environment plays a huge role in the mental state of the occupants of a space, especially behavioral health patients whose perception of safety can be heightened. When patients do not feel comfortable in a space, the relationships between patients and therapists are negatively affected.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category


Healthcare Facilities

Advancing Healthcare: Medical Office Buildings at the Forefront of Access and Safety

This article explores the pivotal shift from traditional hospital settings to Medical Office Buildings (MOBs), focusing on how these facilities enhance patient access. Discover the key drivers of this transformation, including technological advancements, demographic trends, and a growing emphasis on integrated, patient-centered care. Learn how MOBs are not only adapting to modern healthcare demands but are also leveraging modern access control and safety innovations.



halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021