E4H Architecture Celebrates Groundbreaking for Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care

BURLINGTON, Vt. – E4H MorrisSwitzer Environments for Health joined its client, Dartmouth-Hitchcock health system, for a groundbreaking of the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The new 30,000-square-foot facility will incorporate special amenities designed to increase support for patients’ and families’ physical, emotional and spiritual comfort. The center, located on the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, will include education spaces for regional providers and caregivers to train in palliative and hospice care.

E4H MorrisSwitzer Environments for Health designed the facility, which was approved by the hospital board in spring of 2016 and slated for completion in fall of 2017, with the goal of enhancing quality of service, privacy and healing for both patients and their families.

The building will also incorporate a geothermal heating and cooling system, LED lighting technology and high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems. Where possible, products and finishes will be locally sourced and made from natural or recycled content.

Building features

• A one-story building of 12 single-occupancy patient bedrooms, enabling up to three family members to spend the night with their loved one. Each room has a private bathroom and balcony overlooking the woodlands of the DHMC campus.
• A flexible design that can accommodate six additional single-occupancy rooms to meet anticipated growth.
• A commercial kitchen for staff prepared patient meals and a separate kitchen and dining room for families to prepare and host meals for or with their loved ones.
• Specialty rooms for patient, family and staff use, including a meditation and reflection room, massage, music and art therapy rooms, a spa , a family library and reading nooks, plus a small room for exercising.
• Two separate youth rooms, including a play area for small children and a teen media room.

The Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care will also serve as an educational resource for the region, with a program developed and administered by Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Section of Palliative Care, working in collaboration with Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire and other hospice and community partners, to train end-of-life caregivers across New England.

PC Construction Company is serving as project manager.