MaineGeneral Medical Center Alfond Center for Health

The new MaineGeneral Alfond Center for Health serves 88 communities in Central Maine.  The $322 million, 640,000 s.f. hospital provides inpatient and outpatient services, consolidating all inpatient beds in the region. Comprehensive services include 192 inpatient beds, diagnostic and treatment modalities and an outpatient medical office building supporting a full array of physician offices.

The design team established a strong narrative for the project: “A Journey to Wellness, Healing Enhanced by Nature.” This statement served as our guide throughout the project. The building organization supports the “journey” as patients move from the wellness end of the building, through diagnostic and treatment areas to the healing section of the building, the inpatient beds. The “wellness” theme is supported by our focus on evidence-based design, positive distractions, separation of front stage/back stage circulation, abundant natural light, therapy gardens and a non-denominational spiritual space.

The way-finding system combines vibrant color and iconic nature images: Each floor is color coded by theme: fields (bronze), water (blue), forests (green) and mountains (purple).  Images – a stand of birch trees, a mountain top, a river bed – are rendered through the lenses of Maine photographers. Furniture is non-institutional, suggesting hospitality rather than hospital, and provides color and interest against the neutral backdrop of permanent fixtures.

This hospital was designed and built using Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), a first of its kind in New England.  The IPD model challenged the entire team to work smarter and more collaboratively, inventing new processes and systems “on the fly”. The team maximized the use of mock-ups and prototypes. We designed with pre-fabrication, standardized systems, materials and finishes with an eye toward long term maintenance and cost control.  The team achieved unprecedented results: completing the project 8 months ahead of schedule and under budget.

One innovation with direct and positive impact on the interior design was the formation of a 25-member “Experience Team” composed of patients, families, hospital staff, contractors and designers tasked with meeting our goals of “enhancing the patient/family experience”.  The “Experience Team” vetted major design decisions through the filter of five lenses: impact on patients, families, staff, physicians and cost.

The project is on track for LEED Gold Certification. The design projects $1.2 million in annual energy savings and 12 million gallons of water conservation annually.