JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The grand opening of UF Health North in Jacksonville, Florida was recently celebrated. The six-story, 210,000-square-foot ambulatory care and medical office complex was designed to address the acute need for high-quality healthcare in northern Duval County. The complex adds to the existing services located at the UF Health Jacksonville campus downtown and positions the facility as a first-choice provider in the region. It is designed with a clear focus on providing value to staff, patients and patient families. Gresham, Smith and Partners served as architect on the project and Perry-McCall served as general contractor.
UF Health North includes emergency, imaging, surgery and some support services on the first two floors, with the remaining four floors for physician office space. This layout enables physicians with diverse specializations the ability to consult with patients in their offices and refer them for imaging and other ancillary services on the first two floors, making it an attractive model for both community and UF Health doctors. As demand increases, less acute functions will migrate to the upper MOB floors to increase capacity for higher-acuity care.
A high-end, clean and functional space was created that showcases UF Health’s focus on delivering positive patient experiences and outcomes, and improved staff satisfaction. Extensive access to daylight and views is provided, including light wells that bring natural lighting deep into facility. The design is influenced by the regional topography, specifically area wetlands and marshlands. Rooftop and interior gardens help draw a connection to nature, while large-scale photography printed on wood, metal and acrylic echo the Florida landscape and supply a positive distraction. Public areas are designed to relax patients while clinical areas inspire confidence in the care they are to receive.
To eliminate unnecessary physical barriers between departments, as well as create an economically sustainable facility, GS&P designed departments on the first two floors to be flexible and eliminated boundaries. The interventional suite design supports the evolving nature of clinical procedures, and the creation of flex space between each key room permits the continued, logical adaptation and evolution of these interventional spaces. New technologies were incorporated into the facility, including point-of-care registration, kiosks and real-time location systems that can track assets, personnel and/or patients.
In addition to this facility, a 92-bed hospital has been approved for construction on the UF Health North campus. The project, also being designed by GS&P, is slated to open in 2017.
