Smart hospital design boosts patient outcomes

Project: Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital

Award: Health & Wellbeing, Hospitals and Clinics, Bronze, 2022

Location: Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

Design practice: Stantec Architecture Ltd

Client: Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital

Every aspect of Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital’s design was examined through the lens of stress reduction and the creation of a positive, therapeutic environment. Reduction of noise through quiet mechanical and communication systems, reduction of visual clutter through minimal wall mounted devices and hallway carts and equipment. Acoustically dampened walls improve patient privacy, enabling rest and recovery.

As Canada’s first smart hospital it features integrated technology allowing medical devices to ‘speak’ to one another and facilitating a more streamlined and patient-focused experience.

Design highlights 

Simple circulation reduces wayfinding stress while natural light and exterior views aid in orientation. Accents of colour and wood-like elements lend warmth and comfort to the interior.

The design prioritizes efficiency and infection control. For example, Surgical Services uses a unique forward flow model of LEAN patient progression where patient, surgical team, support staff, and clean supplies enter from one side and exit at opposite post-surgery. Flow is in one direction―from clean to dirty, pre- to post-op―improving infection control and by proxy, patient outcomes.
The hospital's design features many sustainable measures, including low overall energy use, water conservation, green roofs and waste diversion.

Photo credit: Stantec