Baylor Medical Center at Garland Unveils Emergency Department Expansion and Renovation

DALLAS — t. howard + associates (THA), designer and architect of record, participated in the grand opening of a major expansion and renovation for Baylor Medical Center at Garland’s emergency department.  The project included extensive renovation of the existing 20,300 square feet and the addition of 4,300 additional square feet, and now accommodates three radiology rooms, one trauma room with seven critical care treatment rooms, a new triage unit, and 18 treatment rooms.

“This was a unique project in that the design and construction had to be mindful of a facility in place for 60 years, and that all the work had to occur while the department maintained operations with as little disruption as possible,” said Karen Thrasher, AIA, NCARB, director for THA.  “We are proud to have helped Baylor through this process, and to have designed a center that enables them to achieve a key goal—improving patient care by making the initial screening and medical exam process much more efficient.”

A key element of THA’s design was optimizing the available square footage for treatment with the inclusion of eight rapid medical exam rooms.  This design enables a physician, nurse and other hospital staff to see patients much more quickly, reducing their time spent in the waiting room and increasing the speed with which they are discharged or sent on for further treatment. 

THA’s design and project management team also had to work around unforeseen elements that often arise when renovating a long-standing facility such as Baylor Medical Center Garland, including columns hidden behind walls, outdated infrastructure and other design complications. 

“We are proud to have been involved in such an important project, especially since this new facility will improve care for patients in the most critical of situations,” said Thrasher. 

About THA
Established in 1998, THA is an award-winning architecture firm specializing in healthcare, educational, early childhood and ecclesiastical design.  Committed to quality, the THA team includes licensed architects and interior designers.  In addition to architecture and design, THA offers a multitude of services including pre-development analysis, sustainable building/design consulting and LEED certification.  The firm also offers sustainability consulting services and is committed to designing as environmentally sound as possible.  More information can be found by calling 214.522.1100 or visiting www.thaarch.com.