Public helps lead design of facility

Image courtesy of Gresham, Smith & Partners, and Harley Ellis Devereaux

McLaren Greater Lansing, part of the Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care, has revamped its design process as it builds a new $450 million health care campus.

Like many hospitals, McLaren welcomes the input of patients on the campus’ design. However, rather than solely using a traditional patient advisory council, McLaren kicked off an initiative called Redesigning Health Care and opened the process to the greater public. 

The hospital has engaged with members of its communities at local events, received hundreds of responses to a survey available in Spanish and English about design features, and continues to consider ideas shared by the public through a dedicated project website. 

The campus will house a 240-bed hospital, cancer center, medical services building and other support facilities, such as research and educational spaces. Many of the details of the new campus are being built with the public’s wants in mind. The project website even lists “hot topics” brought forth by respondents, such as repurposing green space and building for mental health needs to garner more feedback and help inform the final design.

Many of the community’s ideas are being incorporated. Concept boards developed by interior design firm Pace Howe Design, Lansing, Mich., feature specific shades of blue most preferred by the community. Materials being selected for the hospital interior focus on durability, cleanability and ease of maintenance. 

Another popular element the community has zeroed in on is accessibility. Many respondents have submitted ideas about parking, public transportation access, green spaces for patients and visitors, and access to the campus via existing bike trails.

As the project evolves, the community continues to have more opportunities to voice ideas. For instance, the patient and family advisory council toured prototypes of patient rooms and offered feedback on many elements, including where to place patient beds. 

Casey Kandow, McLaren Greater Lansing chief operating officer, says the Redesigning Health Care initiative not only touches on the physical details of the facility, but also addresses how those elements will help to transform care for its community.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to shape the future of health care for generations to come in partnership with the community we proudly serve,” Kandow says. “We look forward to continuing to update people across our region on how their ideas are helping to make our new hospital a beacon for state-of-the-art compassionate care.”

The hospital broke ground in December 2018, and construction crews raised the first steel beam in late May. More than 3,200 tons of structural steel are being used, and the project is on track to open in early 2022.