A new surgery center is helping to improve patient access to surgical procedures at Froedtert West Bend Hospital. Zimmerman designed the expansion for the hospital, replacing an outdated existing facility with 17,000-square-foot facility dedicated to surgical procedures.
The facility includes three operating rooms along with two procedure suites for ear/nose/throat, gastrointestinal, general, gynecologic, orthopedic, plastic, and podiatry procedures. The center also features 18 prep and recovery rooms for patients, strategically positioned around a central core of support spaces. These support spaces include a dedicated anesthesia room, clean supply room, medication room, and a soiled holding room.
To ensure seamless flow and efficiency, the Zimmerman team collaborated closely with vendor Steris to coordinate the layout and equipment placement for the sterile processing area. Input from surgery stakeholders was invaluable in designing the back-of-house support spaces. The sterile supply storage area, designed with input from Froedtert’s materials management staff, maximizes storage capacity and facilitates easy preparation of instruments and supplies for surgical cases by the staff.
The prep and recovery suite is equipped with nurse stations at both ends, and the corridor separating the outboard rooms and central core spaces features a clerestory volume that allows controlled saturation of reflected daylight, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere. Additionally, the design incorporates dedicated staff locker rooms and a staff lounge to provide a supportive and pleasant work environment. The interior design concepts and furniture were informed by Froedtert’s color and materials standards, developed by Zimmerman’s interior design team.
The center accommodates both inpatient and outpatient arrivals. Inpatient arrivals are seamlessly connected to the existing hospital through various physical connections, while outpatients have a dedicated entry point on the south side of the center. The outpatient arrival entry features a covered drop-off area that leads to a bright and airy lobby and registration area. Floor-to-ceiling glass in the lobby offers calming views of the campus and its picturesque rural prairie surroundings, benefiting both patients and staff alike.
