A former Sears store in Rochester, N.Y., will be transformed into one of the largest orthopaedics outpatient facilities in the Northeast.
The new University of Rochester Orthopaedics & Physical Performance Center will arise in retail space at the Marketplace Mall in Henrietta, N.Y. The development reflects two trends: the surge in e-commerce resulting in more vacant retail spaces, and a growing demand for more robust healthcare infrastructure across the country. The project team includes Architect of record SLAM (The S/L/A/M Collaborative) and design architect Perkins & Will.
![Orthopedic outpatient care](/sites/default/files/inline-images/unnamed.jpg)
"As healthcare facilities across the U.S. look to decentralize their services, the adaptive reuse of underutilized retail space represents a huge opportunity for institutions, like the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), to expand their outpatient reach by moving to the mall." said Scott Hansche, AIA, principal-in-charge at SLAM, in a news release.
The $227 million, 350,000 sf facility will include a 210,000 sf renovated space and a 140,000 sf new outpatient clinical services building that will house 140 exam rooms for orthopaedic care.
The design brings daylight into the existing Sears footprint through a series of skylights and an internal courtyard that also functions as rehabilitation space. The building’s sinuous facade design represents the idea of movement, echoing the orthopaedic care provided within its walls.
The new facility will address a growing need to expand infrastructure into underserved regions, helping to address healthcare equity gaps. One of the goals was to create a feeling of familiarity and accessibility for patients.
![Expand Infrastructure](/sites/default/files/inline-images/unnamed%20%281%29_0.png)
“Repurposing a traditional community anchor, such as a mall, helps upend perceptions of healthcare facilities as centralized urban complexes,” said Robert Goodwin, FAIA, design director of Perkins & Will's New York studio. “We are integrating healthcare into the existing fabric of the community rather than asking patients to travel to a facility that might be hard to reach.” Accessibility was amplified through a series of decentralized entry points and the addition of a dedicated bus stop outside of the outpatient facility.
Repurposing an existing site meant that there was reduced need for permitting and no new roads were required. The renovated 200,000 sf section includes a surgical platform with three operating rooms, a three-room procedure suite, advanced imaging, clinical research, education, administration, physical therapy, and a human performance and injury prevention center.
The first phase, relocating the orthopaedic administrative offices to an adjacent renovated lease space, was completed and occupied in fall 2021. The second phase, the conversion of the former Sears store to an outpatient surgical center, will be complete by fall 2022. A third phase, construction of a rehab and sports performance center is expected to open next spring, and a four-story, 144-bed clinic space is scheduled for completion in fall 2023.
![Admin offices phase 1](/sites/default/files/inline-images/unnamed%20%282%29.png)
Owner and/or developer: Wilmorite
Design architect: Perkins & Will's New York studio
Architect of record: SLAM (The S/L/A/M Collaborative)
Local Associate Architect: Dwyer Architectural
MEP/IT Engineer : ME Engineering
Structural Engineer: Jensen BRV
General contractor/construction manager: Le Chase
Civil Engineer and Landscape Architect: Bergmann Associates
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 25, 2023
California medical center breaks ground on behavioral health facility for both adults and children
In San Jose, Calif., Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) has broken ground on a new behavioral health facility: the Child, Adolescent, and Adult Behavioral Health Services Center. Designed by HGA, the center will bring together under one roof Santa Clara County’s behavioral health offerings, including Emergency Psychiatric Services and Urgent Care.
Government Buildings | Mar 24, 2023
19 federal buildings named GSA Design Awards winners
After a six-year hiatus, the U.S. General Services Administration late last year resumed its esteemed GSA Design Awards program. In all, 19 federal building projects nationwide were honored with 2022 GSA Design Awards, eight with Honor Awards and 11 with Citations.
Transportation & Parking Facilities | Mar 23, 2023
Amsterdam debuts underwater bicycle parking facility that can accommodate over 4,000 bikes
In February, Amsterdam saw the opening of a new underwater bicycle parking facility. Located in the heart of the city—next to Amsterdam Central Station and under the river IJ (Amsterdam’s waterfront)—the facility, dubbed IJboulevard, has parking spots for over 4,000 bicycles, freeing up space on the street.
Affordable Housing | Feb 15, 2023
2023 affordable housing roundup: 20+ multifamily projects
In our latest call for entries, Building Design+Construction collected over 20 multifamily projects with a focus on affordable housing. Here is a comprehensive list of all projects in alphabetical order.
Sponsored | Projects | Feb 6, 2023
How Suffolk Construction leverages Procore data in real-time with Toric
Read how Suffolk Construction enables project stakeholders to make better-informed project decisions faster by feeding data from sources like Procore and Oracle P6 as actionable insights.
Augmented Reality | Jan 27, 2023
Enhancing our M.O.O.D. through augmented reality therapy rooms
Perkins Eastman’s M.O.O.D. Space aims to make mental healthcare more accessible—and mental health more achievable.
Senior Living Design | Jan 10, 2023
8 senior living communities that provide residents with memory care
Here are eight senior living communities that offer their residents memory care, an important service for residents who need this specialized care.
Adaptive Reuse | Dec 21, 2022
University of Pittsburgh reinvents century-old Model-T building as a life sciences research facility
After opening earlier this year, The Assembly recently achieved LEED Gold certification, aligning with the school’s and community’s larger sustainability efforts.
K-12 Schools | Dec 20, 2022
Designing an inspiring, net zero early childhood learning center
LPA's design for a new learning center in San Bernardino provides a model for a facility that prepares children for learning and supports the community.
Student Housing | Dec 7, 2022
9 exemplary student housing projects in 2022
Production continued apace this year and last, as colleges and universities, for-profit developers, and their AEC teams scrambled to get college residences open before the start of classes.