The 62-bed progressive care unit for EvergreenHealth is tailored to meet the total needs of its caregiver staff. The design of the PCU presented a unique challenge: laying two higher acuity floors on a floor plate designed for a basic med-surg unit. A detailed study of the layouts, including full-scale mockups of patient rooms and staff spaces were thoughtfully implemented. This allowed the clinical staff to simulate their work in the space while the design team adjusted the location of walls, outlets, and casework to reach an optimal layout.

The concept provides for patient utility services to be easily changed when technologies change while minimizing the amount of time a patient room is out of service. The resulting patient rooms are not only aesthetically pleasing but also the quietest rooms in the hospital.