VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Dedicates New Ambulatory Care Center

The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System will dedicate its new ambulatory care center Sept. 30. The new center integrates primary care, specialty follow-up, physical rehabilitation, audiology, dental, prosthetics, rehab medicine, community services, outpatient pharmacy and patient education.

With the goal of LEED® certification in mind, Astorino with Associate Architect, HDR, designed the building with sustainable elements, such as: CO2 monitoring to ensure adequate ventilation; low emitting interior finishes, paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and carpets; access to public transportation; bicycle racks and showering facilities for building occupants; and regionally sourced building materials. Features include:

• Clinical exam suites are arranged in small neighborhoods eliminating the stress and anxiety often induced by large medical settings.
• Clerestory allows daylight to permeate and enhance the healing environment of the first floor central atrium.
• Wireless clinical IT systems enhance the current computerized clinical patient record system.
• Within the clinical suites, exam room equivalents are the basic building blocks of the floor plan, providing ultimate flexibility for future clinical and administrative space changes without significant renovation.
• Introduction of rooftop healing gardens for outdoor treatment space, further enhancing clinical outcomes and increasing satisfaction.

More information is available at www.pittsburgh.va.gov.

About Astorino
For nearly four decades, Astorino has been at the forefront of where people and design intersect.  A full-service company, Astorino combines architectural, engineering, construction and interior design solutions with unprecedented human-centered research to provide one seamless delivery process. This internationally recognized firm leverages its creative foundation, interdisciplinary expertise and a strong collaborative approach to create environments inspired by how people live, learn, heal, work and play. For more information, please visit www.astorino.com.