Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg Campus Expansion
Bethlehem, Penn.
FreemanWhite with Venturi Scott Brown

Team of architects designs with patients in mind

	Index | Project Specs
	Click here for slide show. Photo © Matt Wargo

Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg engaged architect Venturi Scott Brown and Associates, in collaboration with architect FreemanWhite, to renovate an existing 100,000-square-foot building and create a new 265,000-square-feet tower. The program included 188 private rooms for critical care, cardiac, and medical/surgical patients; an expansion of the Regional Heart Center; an intensive care unit; a Diagnostic Care Center; a new hospital entrance and lobby; cafeteria; pharmacy; chapel; retail space; and increased visitor and staff parking.

The architects designed patient and clinical areas with the patient and family in mind. For instance, in stations at the main entry on each floor, administrative staff members forge a personal connection with visitors and patients alike. In the medical units, functions that are typically located in a central nurse station are instead located at the entrances to individual rooms, allowing the nursing staff to focus more on patient care. Each room includes separate zones for patient, staff, and family. And, to improve flexibility and decrease patient relocations, the twelve-bed open-heart unit can provide complete services from post-surgery to discharge.

An iconic blue “H” marks the hospital’s entrance. This 48-foot-high structure is integrated into a limestone arcade that welcomes visitors and supports the entrance canopy. Red brick and limestone clad the front façade, offset by an applied metal grid that represents advanced technology, while buff brick comprises the side and rear elevations. In interior rooms, warm patterns and colors help to create a comforting atmosphere and help in wayfinding.

Formal name of project:
Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg Campus Expansion

Location:
Bethlehem, Penn.

Gross square footage:
365,000 sq. ft.

Total Construction Cost:
$60 million

Owner:
Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network

Architect(s):
FreemanWhite
8025 Arrowridge Blvd
Charlotte, NC  28273
704-523-2230 tel.
704-523-2235 fax
www.freemanwhite.com

In association with:
Venturi Scott Brown and Associates
4236 Main Street
Philadelphia, PA  19127-1696
215-487-0400 tel.
215-487-2520 fax
www.vsba.com

Click here to see all the people and products behind this project