design thinkers blog
building lasting relationships
[hero image]

Danbury Hospital

Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Pavilion

the story

The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Pavilion at Danbury Hospital added approximately 300,000 SF of new construction to the existing campus – the largest expansion in the hospital’s history. SLAM and the Western Connecticut Health Network have a significant, long-term relationship that was only further enhanced through the Buck Pavilion project. But more importantly, the project helped to further connect the Hospital to the greater Danbury community. Over $80 Million of private funds from over 6,000 donors contributed to the project’s feasibility, headlined by the $30 Million donation by Dr. Peter Buck – co-founder of the Subway franchise, and his late wife Carmen. These donors are forever memorialized throughout the tower at various prominent locations.

at-a-glance

TYPE:
Renovation and Addition
PRACTICE:
Architecture
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture
Programming & Planning
LOCATION:
Danbury, CT
STATUS:
Completed 2014
SIZE:
300,000 SF
INSIGHT

2010 was a watershed year for 125-year-old Danbury Hospital: it worked closely with Planetree™ to strengthen core values of providing patient-centered care; merged with New Milford Hospital to form the Western Connecticut Health Network; and, embarked on the largest expansion in the hospital’s history, which became the catalyst for a master plan a year later. 

SOLUTION

After a significant master planning effort was completed by SLAM, it was evident that a new tower addition would provide the living framework for master plan implementation – including a new ED, surgical suite, private patient beds, significant circulation and landscape improvements, and much more. 

[image]

Danbury Hospital is located in a dense hilly residential neighborhood near the heart of downtown Danbury. Prior to construction, the hospital had numerous entry points along all of its frontage on Hospital Avenue, Locust Avenue and Osborne Street. Several disparate services were consolidated into a single location to more clearly define and better support the overall institution’s greater focus on patient-centered care. The separation of the main entry and emergency entry allows for improved site circulation by creating clear destinations and avoiding the combination of conflicting traffic patterns. The existing garage, which abuts the two areas, was redesigned to allow vehicular access from both entries, creating an on-site connection and allowing for a single, shared pedestrian access from the garage into the new lobby.

[image]
[image]

The idea of an ‘Oasis’ was introduced as a design concept to help define the unique character of the new project and is used as a way to organize the new main entry elements. A healing garden is the centerpiece to a distinctive landscaped forecourt about which the new main entry drop-off canopy, lobby, handicapped parking, and main garage access are arranged.

[image]

This Oasis is the new first impression for arriving visitors, establishing a positive welcoming experience as soon as people arrive at the campus. Patients in the bed tower look out across the Oasis in all seasons. During the off season when the pool is drained, its visual interest has been supplemented with the installation of alternating sweeping bands of black pebbles and bluestone flagging on the pool’s bottom.

[image]

The new addition includes right-sized critical care and medical/surgical private patient rooms, a new 40,000 SF emergency department, also with private rooms, and space for future expansion.

[image]

The most profound aspect of this effort is to enable the entire facility to convert to all single-bed, private rooms — a critical element to delivering healthcare safely and effectively. The right-sized private rooms address the needs of the patient, family and staff and help to support the full potential of the patient-centered core values of the hospital.

IMPACT

The project has truly delivered on its intended goals. The tower has freed up space on campus, allowing Danbury Hospital to re-organize several departments to maximize operational efficiency. Patients and staff have raved about the facility, HCAHPS scores have improved, and the community has been able to take great pride in the success of the project. 

“

We are poised for a very bright future, which includes expanding and upgrading to the latest technologies in order to enhance clinical care and privacy for patients and their families. 

John Murphy
CEO – Western Connecticut Health Network
”
[image]

Connecticut Building Congress
Project Team Award Winner
SLAM and Gilbane Construction Team

[image]

CREW, Connecticut Real Estate Exchange
Blue Ribbon Award Winner
Best Sustainable Design

[image]

National Best of ASI Awards Winner
Best Donor Recognition Solution and
The Bloom Award

Project Contact

“We have recognized that healthcare takes place at levels beyond patient medical needs; it’s become as much about making the process easier, more accommodating and less stressful. As patients and families are educated about their options for choice, the ability to shop for care, the competition for market share becomes increasingly important as does providing the optimal experience.”

P
860 368.2318

related projects

[case study]
Doylestown Health
Doylestown, PA
[case study]
Middlesex Hospital
Westbrook, CT