EJGH Critical Care Unit Expansion
Client: East Jefferson General Hospital
Location: Metairie, LA
Square Footage: 10,340 sf
This renovation expanded the existing Critical Care Unit at EJGH into an area that previously housed a pulmonary unit. The new program included additional critical care beds and support spaces for the existing twenty bed ICU unit. Of the eight new beds, one is bariatric and two are airborne isolation rooms (AII). All are capable of going to negative pressure for future pandemic planning. KKA worked with ICU staff to design the headwall for the new beds, combining attractive, durable aesthetics with access to all medical utilities, including ventilator accommodations.
The program also addressed a need for additional staff spaces. Two new nurse stations were added, along with three new workrooms and a conference/breakroom. Two of these rooms were designed to function as a campus command center for the unit in time of crisis. In addition, the design added locker space, three sleep rooms with a shower/bathroom for on-call staff, and a decontamination/clean storage room for the processing of ventilators and other equipment.
Finishes were selected in coordination with LCMC branded colors. Nurse stations each feature unique, bright color palettes to aid in wayfinding. Patient rooms have a quieter aesthetic, with calming colors, warm wood paneling, and soft lighting.