Medical Building Must-Haves

Medical buildings require a variety of unique features that differ from traditional office buildings. These buildings should create an environment that is both welcoming for patients and comfortable for doctors and staff to work in, all while being safe. These unique challenges make designing a medical building more complex than designing other commercial spaces. Here are some of the features and characteristics that should be part of any medical building design.

Space For Technology

Technology has become an increasingly important part of medical practice, and it’s important for medical buildings to accommodate this. Digital workspaces should be accessible throughout the building, and each office should have space for computers and other necessary technology. There should also be spaces that are flexible enough to accommodate different types of advanced medical technology for testing and treatment.

Sustainable Construction

Medical buildings need to be safe and durable enough to last for decades to come. This means meeting modern standards for fire, flood, and earthquake resistance. Local weather patterns should also be taken into consideration when designing medical buildings – for example, if your area experiences heavy snowfall, your building should be designed with strong drainage systems and insulation.

Ideally, they should also be constructed with sustainable materials and systems to minimize the negative impact on our planet. For example, heating and cooling systems should be designed with energy efficiency in mind. Many companies are also using modular construction methods to build modern medical buildings.

This allows them to construct sections of the building offsite and assemble them upon arrival, which results in more sustainable processes.

Sustainable construction is important for the longevity of the building, your employees and patients, and your community. However, it also benefits your businesses’ bottom line. Using durable, energy-efficient materials and processes can actually save you money in the long run, even if it requires extra investment up front.

Sound Control

Privacy is an essential part of medical care, so buildings should be designed with acoustics and sound in mind. Your staff should be able to have private conversations with patients or among themselves without worrying about sound traveling. Additionally, the building acoustics should be designed so that any loud noises from machines are contained in one area. Not only will this prevent sound from traveling out, but it will also prevent loud noises outdoors from interfering with your conversations.

Natural Light

Going to the doctor can be a stressful experience, so the design of your medical facility should be welcoming and calming to alleviate these feelings. It’s also important to create a space where doctors and their staff can work comfortably. Adding sources of natural light to the building can make a big difference in the building’s environment. While not all rooms will accommodate windows, skylights and other unconventional light sources can make a big difference.

These are just a few key factors to consider when designing medical buildings. At New Horizons Construction Services, we work on a wide variety of building projects, including medical buildings, as a Florida-based general contractor. If you’re interested in learning more about our services, give us a call at 407-574-2164.