Hord Coplan Macht Helps Expand Greater Baltimore Medical Center

HCM provided planning and design for a new 117,000 square foot addition.

By HFT Staff


Over the past several years, healthcare spaces have seen a dramatic shift in planning and design. Hospitals and doctor’s offices have been leaning on hospitality-focused design elements to create more of a welcoming, comfortable and pleasurable experience for patients. Leading design firm, Hord Coplan Macht (HCM) has leveraged this new phenomenon within their recently completed expansion of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.  

Working collaboratively with staff and clinicians, HCM provided planning and design for a new 117,000 square foot addition to the existing hospital, which serves as the new main entrance. Taking cues from typical hospitality spaces, the team incorporated a feature piece at the entrance: a three-story light filled atrium created a peaceful, inviting first impression. Existing and new patient rooms look out onto the three-story space, giving natural cues to patients and visitors. 

To help create a community-focused facility, a thoughtful wayfinding system and intuitive design details clarify navigation. Large, undulating floor and wall patterns provide welcome and a sense of calm as they guide visitors through the new main entrance. This circulation flow minimizes anxiety through visual cues that direct visitors and staff to their destinations. Changing the scale creates privacy and contributes to a sense of well-being. Additionally, dividing the larger public space into smaller seating clusters with lowered ceilings or cabanas produces intimate spaces for overwhelmed families. 

The patient rooms are also designed to engage families in patient care. This approach lays the foundation for aftercare, which is critical to long-term recovery. Individual controls allow patients to adjust lighting and temperature, personalizing the environment to increase comfort. The overall layout promotes communication between the patients and staff as well as encourages families to engage in the healing process. HCM gave special attention to creating comfortable, inviting spaces dedicated to caregivers, patients and family members. 



February 22, 2024


Topic Area: Construction


Recent Posts

How Backup Power Needs Vary Across Healthcare Settings

Manufacturers discuss how evolving codes, technologies and care settings shape healthcare backup power strategies.


Flexible Design Strategies Help OhioHealth Maximize Clinical Space

Doing more with less was key to the renovated facility’s design.


New Bass Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases Opens

The new space not only offers more exam rooms but also features 15 private infusion bays to allow privacy for all patients and their caregivers during treatment.


Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Daytona Beach Opens

Hospital amenities include all private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym featuring advanced rehabilitation technologies, an activities of daily living suite and more.


What Healthcare Facilities Can Learn from a $49 Million Window Failure

A major window system failure at the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital sparked a costly replacement project – and a $49.4 million arbitration win.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.