Hackensack Meridian Health & Wellness Center, Eatontown, New Jersey
Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH, Eatontown, NJ) has partnered with Philadelphia-based FCA Corp. to expand outpatient care.
Built to improve access to services as part of a broader hub-and-spoke strategy, the Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center in Eatontown marks the first iteration of this effort.
The 45,000 square foot medical office building (MOB), scheduled to open in 2022, will be located on the site of the former Direct Shoe Warehouse and adjacent Toys-R-Us store.
Adaptive Reuse of Retail Stores
A future model for HMH’s multi-specialty outpatient care centers, the facility consolidates a variety of practices into one facility, including cardiology, primary care, diagnostic imaging, neurology, labs, physical therapy and women’s oncology.
On the exterior, the redesign incorporates prominent signage and blue awnings, tying the space’s visual identity to HMH’s iconic brand elements for easy recognition.
Inside, neutral tones create a soothing atmosphere, while wooden acoustic paneling adds elegance and minimises noise created by the high ceiling heights of the previous retail space.
Prioritize patient flow
The design team aimed to optimize the layout and space utilization for improved patient flow. Specifically, a centrally located kiosk allows for a seamless check-in experience and reduces friction between clinics. The east and west concourses provide access to many of the main clinical spaces, while the north and south corridors provide secondary access to more specialized care services.
Dedicated colors and decorative lighting fixtures provide wayfinding routes and visually identify key entrances.
The center’s interior aims to enhance privacy by grouping related clinics, such as obstetrics and gynecology and women’s oncology, to create more segregated, dedicated waiting areas. Color-coordinated corridors aid wayfinding, and dedicated colors are introduced to distinguish certain suites.
For example, dermatology and breast surgery corridors are marked with warm neutrals and gray tones, imaging and exam rooms are assigned bright greens and teal, adult and specialty services use HMH branded blue, and obstetrics and gynecology and pediatric suites use warm blues and bright oranges, respectively.
Upon entering the dedicated examination room, wooden sliding doors with frosted glass provide privacy, yet are opaque enough to transmit the light and energy of the adjacent hallway.
To develop a streamlined patient experience and more efficient workflows, the design team also consulted with community representatives on process mapping for patients, visitors and staff.
You can find out more about this project here.
Project details for Hackensack Meridian Health & Wellness Center in Eatontown
Location: Eatontown, New Jersey
Expected completion date: September 2022
Owner: Hackensack Meridian Health
Total building area: 45,000 square feet.
Total construction cost: $11,431,000
Cost/square foot: $254
Architect: FCA
Interior Designer: FCA
General Contractor: LF Driscoll Healthcare LLC
Engineers: PWI Engineering (MEP), O’Donnell & Naccarato (Structural)
Builder: LF Driscoll Healthcare LLC
Medical Equipment Planner: FCA
Carpet/Flooring: Forbo/Patcraft
Ceiling/wall system: Frasch, Stratawood acoustic linear wood felt panels
Handrails and wall guards: Construction specialists
Lighting: Metalux, Axis, Lithonia, Sonneman, Pablo Des, Gotham, Lithonia, Fry Reglet
Signs/Directions: Vista Signs
Surface—Solid wood/Other: Corian/Formica
Wallpaper: Rebel
Other: Aruru (glass partition)
Project details will be provided by the design team. Healthcare design.
