LifeShare Carolinas plays a crucial role connecting generous donors to individuals in need of life-saving organ, eye, and tissue transplants. Partnering with Atrium Health and LifeShare Carolinas, our design of the new LifeShare Donor Care Center unites medical management and recovery of organ donors while offering support to grieving donor families and the broader community. As one of the 56 organ procurement organizations, commonly referred to as OPOs, in the United States, the facility is one of only 17 donation centers nationwide. 

This new facility type addresses hospital capacity challenges and alleviates the strain on hospital resources, while simultaneously streamlining the donation recovery process to increase organ, tissue, and eye donations, ultimately saving more lives. 

At 27,000 SF, the donor center mimics comprehensive hospital resources and departments, encompassing ICU rooms, surgical suites, laboratories, full diagnostic capabilities, and other essential elements required for successful donor management. Dedicated spaces for grief counseling services were designed with the Donor Family in mind.

The design also prioritizes staff satisfaction and well-being, offering open offices on the second-floor mezzanine with outside views, varied meeting spaces for employee collaboration, a kitchen-style breakroom, a gym, and a staff patio overlooking the adjacent creek that provides a serene backdrop in moments of respite. In addition, the act of donation is celebrated by highlighting donor stories throughout the building, serving as a source of inspiration and connection for donor families and staff. The new facility not only creates a better donation environment, but also serves as a testament to LifeShare’s mission of hope, life, and healing.