The Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Facility (BLCOC) is an ambulatory care facility located just west of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada with stunning views to the Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area.
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International Interior Design Awards 2023
Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre
Health Care Interior Built
Firm
Parkin Architects in JV with FBM Architects
Architect/Designer
Andrea Langham
Design Team
Robin Snell, Andrea Langham, Gina Martino, Lynne Wilson-Orr, Laura Hann, Rebecca MacDonald, Sohail Akhtar, Safoura Khajeh, Dinali Bandaratilleke, Rachael Newbury, Oscar Ramos-Martinez, Mason Bonoan, Rick Miura, Dorota Klimczak, Sarayu Mohanrao, Li Tang, Natalia Volkova, Pamela Duarte
Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Country
Canada
Photographer/Copyright
©JULIAN PARKINSON
The new BLCOC is part of a master plan for the QEII Health Sciences Centre to decant services from the Halifax Infirmary site and to provide ambulatory care services in closer proximity to patients outside the Greater Halifax Region. The primary goal of the Facility is to provide health services in an efficient, accessible, safe, and sustainable manner, while respecting the privacy and dignity of patients, families, and staff. The three-storey facility provides space for primary care services to be delivered by the healthcare team including doctors, nurses, and other allied health professionals. With approximately 100 clinical spaces, the facility offers appointment-based clinic services such as physio and occupational therapy, high blood pressure, diabetes and orthopedic assessment, examination rooms, 24 dialysis stations, diagnostic imaging (x-rays and ultrasounds), blood collection along with post-surgery or post-treatment follow-up appointments.
The split-level facility allows for two main “at-grade” patient entrances on the east side of the building. The Level 1 entrance is specifically for Dialysis patients while Level 2 provides the main patient entrance for all other clinics. A separate entrance is provided on the west side of the facility for staff only. Each of these entrances are articulated with a wood look canopy, signifying the entry destination point and carrying through the warmth of the wood ceiling interiors.
A key architectural feature of the facility is the Great Hall, a double height glazed space that houses the Welcome Centre, a Cafe, waiting areas and offers a myriad of opportunities for casual use, socialization and respite for patients, families, and staff. The introduction of natural warm materials and textures reinforces the connection between the facility and the surrounding Nova Scotia landscape, while helping to define landmarks and allow for passive navigation through the Great Hall. Layered on top of this are the heritage inspired patterns, nature graphics and colour that create specific departmental addresses allowing patients and visitors to feel confident that they have arrived at their destination. The Great Hall on level 2 is also visually connected to both Level 1 and Level 3 and supports easy and intuitive wayfinding for patients and families. The architectural expression of the facility provides a fresh, contemporary approach to healthcare facility design that reinforces concepts of quality, wellness, and a connection to nature.