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.
"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.
“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.
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
Contractors | Nov 13, 2017
CBRE completes acquisition of Heery International
The deal is expected to expand the real-estate firm’s project management capacities in several U.S. sectors.
Architects | Oct 31, 2017
AIA selects recipients for the 2017 Innovation Awards
The program honors projects that highlight collaboration between design and construction teams to create better process efficiencies and overall costs savings.
Projects | Sep 13, 2017
A new platform offers a solution to construction cost overruns
Rider Levett Bucknall’s Pulse takes project management deeper into financial analysis and forecasting.
Projects | Apr 17, 2017
BD+C's 2017 Design Innovation Report
Façades that would make Dr. Seuss smile, living walls, and exterior wall space that doubles as gallery space are all represented in this year's BD+C Design Innovation Report.
Projects | Jan 25, 2017
Trump prioritizes infrastructure projects, as rebuilding America is now a hot political potato
Both parties are talking about $1 trillion in spending over the next decade. How projects will be funded, though, remains unresolved.
Projects | Jul 29, 2016
From Construction Site to Court Room: How project management is transforming expert witness teams
Applying goal-oriented methodologies and techniques can increase efficiency and reduce costs associated with litigation.
Projects | Aug 21, 2015
Panama Canal expansion nearing completion
An April 2016 opening is scheduled, which will allow bigger-capacity ships to traverse between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Mixed-Use | Jul 22, 2015
Despite China's 'ghost cities,' the country continues construction boom
Cities continue to spring up in the heart of China. Designed to accommodate millions, many are still nearly empty.
Sponsored | Cladding and Facade Systems | Mar 24, 2015
Designers turn a struggling mall into a hub of learning and recreation
Architects help Nashville government transform a struggling mall into a new community space.
Museums | Mar 5, 2015
A giant, silver loop in Dubai will house the Museum of the Future
The Sheikh of Dubai hopes the $136 million museum will serve as an incubator for ideas and real designs—a global destination for inventors and entrepreneurs.