Architect Designs Anatomy Lab With Focus on Functionality, Durability, and Flexibility

Anatomy lab design requires a thorough understanding of the unique needs and challenges of a large space where medical and allied healthcare profession students learn about physiology through actual, physical dissection. Imagine an environment where you have 100 anatomy students, working in one large room, on multiple dissections, and you will start to envision the challenges facing an architect of an anatomy lab.

So well-known lab design architect architect, Bernstein & Associates, Architects, approached the design of a new university anatomy lab with a view to creating a state-of-the-art lab that would meet the particular needs of this university lab building type.

The first step in the lab design process was a careful look at the existing anatomy lab. The reason? First to evaluate the pluses and minuses of the existing lab. And second, because the new lab was proposed for the same location as the existing lab, it was important to determine how the new lab could be built in a way that would minimize the period of time that the university would not have a functioning anatomhy lab.

Following the due diligence of looking at existing conditions, the architect drew up a written Program, summarizing the room-by-room requirements of the lab. Once approved, there were numerous lab design meetings with the university administration and the anatomy lab department, to review adjacency and flow concepts, as well as the appropriate size for each of the lab components.

The design of the anatomy lab that resulted, incorporates the following lab components in a logical relationship and room-to-room flow: the main anataomy lab iteself with 25 worktables designed for 6 students at each table, male and female locker rooms, faculty office, virtual anatomy computer lab, general storage room and av storage room.

The overall finishes of the lab space are designed for maximum durability. Within the lab, there are two plumbing hose bibs, to allow the university to bring in spray washers and spray wash the entire lab space, including floors, walls and ceilings. This potential water saturation of all surfaces dictated not only an extensive floor drain system, but also waterproof surfaces and light fixtures, as well as ground fault interruptors on all electrical outlets.

The mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are sophisticated, in keeping with the demainding nature of anatomy lab usage. The HVAC system is designed as a laminar flow system, with air distributed from the ceiling and exhusted through low returns in the wall (similiar to the HVAC design of operating rooms and clean rooms). All of the electrical as mentioned had to be waterproof, including flex-coil outlets suspended from the ceiling. The plumbing system is critical for hand-washing, instrument washing, and drainage of the entire space in a safe manner. Lighting in particular was developed with multiple lighting levels, to allow alternmate uses of the space requiring high vs. low ambient lighting levels.
All-in-all, state-of-the-art anatomy lab, resulting from careful study of this university lab building type, as well as close coordination between architect, engineer, university administration and anatomy lab teaching staff.

For Lab Design see, http://bernarch.com/healthcare-design-laboratories/

For more information about the design, architecture and engineering of state-of-the-art anatomy labs, including the design of virtual anatomy labs, please contact well-known lab architect, Bernstein & Associates, Architects:

Bernstein & Assoc. Architects - PLLC
(lab planning, lab design, lab architecture, and lab engineering)
59 West 19th Street - 6A New York, NY 10011
Office: 212.463.8200 Fax: 212.463.9898
Email: info@bernarch.com
www.bernarch.com

Bernstein & Associates, Architects Receives New Women's Center Design Commission

Bernstein & Associates, Architects (www.bernarch.com) is pleased to announce that it has been selected to design a new women's center in Westchester County, NY.

The project includes multiple women's center modalities including the design and construction of rooms for ultrasound, bone densitometry, digital mammography and stereotactic biopsy. In addition, the women's center will have typical support space such as dressing rooms, offices, reception and waiting.

The project will be designed to complement the professional and caring approach of the radiologists behind this new, state-of-the-art women's center.

About Bernstein & Associates, Architects:

Founded in 1990, the firm has specialized in healthcare design and construction --- with a sub-specialty in radiology --- since 1990. The firm is highly experienced with state-of-the-art radiology practice including leading edge equipment, planning strategies, and PACs implementation. B&A is experienced with all modalities, and with all of the major radiology equipment manufacturers. To focus on one modality, as an example, experience with MRI suite design includes the following: (5) 3.0T MRI suites within the last five years, one of the few 7.0T MRI suites in the entire world, and over (20) 1.5T MRI suites over the last 18 years. The firm’s radiology work has been published extensively --- see section below on Radiology Publications.

Representative Radiology, Healthcare and Laboratory Publications:

- "Design of a State-of-the-Art Research Radiology Center"© William N. Bernstein, Hospital Newspaper
- "Universal Room Design Can Mitigate Change Costs", © William N. Bernstein, Aunt Minnie.com
- “The Planetree Approach”, © William N. Bernstein, Hospital Newspaper
- “Trading Spaces”, © William N. Bernstein, Advance for Imaging and Oncology
- “Ten Points of the New Healthcare Design", © William N. Bernstein, Hospital Newspaper
- "Facility Planning Implications of the New MRI Safety Guidelines", © William N. Bernstein, Hospital Newspaper
- "Finding the Right Space for a New Imaging Center", © William N. Bernstein, AuntMinnie.com
- "On the Front Lines: A NYC Hospital Engineer's First Hand Account of Sept. 11", Health Facilities Management, © William N. Bernstein (with Michael Rawlings)
- "Floor Planning In a Nutshell", © M. J. Tamas, Advance for Administrators in Radiology
- “Architects Double-Team the Future of Radiology with Experience and a Can-Do Attitude”, © P. Rohland, Advance for Administrators in Radiology
- "Renovated Space, Skywalk `Reconnect' - 4 Floors Up", Health Facilities Management

For Radiology Design see, http://bernarch.com/healthcare-design-radiology/

For Further Information about Bernstein & Associates, Architects, please contact:

William N. Bernstein, AIA
Principal
Bernstein & Associates, Architects - PLLC
59 West 19th Street - 6A New York, NY 10011
Office: 212.463.8200 Fax: 212.463.9898
Email: wb@bernarch.com
www.bernarch.com

Cardiac Hypothermia Requirement Impacts NYC ER's

According to a story in the New York Times, dated 12/04/08, starting on Jan. 1, New York City ambulances will take many cardiac arrest patients only to hospitals that use a delicate cooling therapy believed to reduce the chances of brain damage and increase the chances of survival, even if it means bypassing closer emergency rooms.

The move was made by the city’s Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service.

The move reflects an emerging view within that agency that the the type of treatment that cardiac arrest patients receive may be more important than how quickly they arrive and are treated at the ER.

According to the Times, since the Fire Department sent letters to hospital chief executives this week informing them of the impending change, about 20 of the 59 hospitals with emergency rooms have said they will have cooling operations ready by the Jan. 1 deadline.

Other cities with similiar policies to New York include: Seattle, Boston, Miami, Vienna and London.

According to the Times article, "the city has set no requirements for the kind of cooling techniques hospitals must use — some may start with inexpensive saline solutions and plastic bags filled with ice, while others employ sophisticated equipment manufactured and aggressively promoted by companies like Alsius, Innercool Therapies and Medivance."

Hospitals cited in the Times article that are currently practice therapeutic hypothermia include: NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, Bellevue Hospital Center and St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan, Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn and Staten Island University Hospital.

For Cardiology Design see, http://bernarch.com/healthcare-design-cardiology/

For more information, see: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/nyregion/04cool.html?_r=1&hp

Women's Center Design Client Honored by NYWA Dot Med News December 03, 2008

Women's Center Design Client Honored by NYWA
Dot Med News
December 03, 2008

Bernstein & Associates, Architects is pleased to announce that one of its clients for women's center design --- Dr. Jane Tuvia --- is being honored by The New York Women's Agenda at their annual Star Breakfast being held on Tuesday, December 9.

According to the announcement from NYWA, "it is proud to honor Dr. Tuvia, who, as you know, is committed to women's health and opened Madison Avenue Women's Imaging in order to give women the best possible care, emphasizing that early detection through screening is the key tool in the battle against cancer."

Bernstein & Associates, Architects was the architect of the Madison Avenue Women's Imaging, on Madison Avenue at 38th Street, in Manhattan. The project involved design and construction of a state-of-the-art, multi-modality women's center --- including integrated design of rooms for mammography, ultrasound, bone densitometry, and a 1.5T GE MRI --- all designed to support the professional, caring approach that has contributed to the success of Dr. Tuvia's practice.

About the NYWA:

Through its strong network of women's organizations, NYWA helps women from all walks of life attain brighter futures. The Star Breakfast serves as NYWA's primary fundraiser. NYWA is known for its commitment to bettering the lives of women in New York. By supporting NYWA, you will not only be acknowledging the fight against breast cancer, but will also be supporting NYWA's effort to empower women.
About Bernstein & Associates, Architects:Founded in 1990, the firm has specialized in healthcare design and construction --- with a sub-specialty in radiology --- since 1990. The firm is highly experienced with state-of-the-art radiology practice including leading edge equipment, planning strategies, and PACs implementation. B&A is experienced with all modalities, and with all of the major radiology equipment manufacturers. To focus on one modality, as an example, experience with MRI suite design includes the following: (5) 3.0T MRI suites within the last five years, one of the few 7.0T MRI suites in the entire world, and over (20) 1.5T MRI suites over the last 18 years. The firm’s radiology work has been published extensively --- see section below on Radiology Publications.Representative Radiology, Healthcare and Laboratory Publications:
- "Design of a State-of-the-Art Research Radiology Center"© William N. Bernstein, Hospital Newspaper
- "Universal Room Design Can Mitigate Change Costs", © William N. Bernstein, Aunt Minnie.com
- “The Planetree Approach”, © William N. Bernstein, Hospital Newspaper
- “Trading Spaces”, © William N. Bernstein, Advance for Imaging and Oncology
- “Ten Points of the New Healthcare Design", © William N. Bernstein, Hospital Newspaper
- "Facility Planning Implications of the New MRI Safety Guidelines", © William N. Bernstein, Hospital Newspaper
- "Finding the Right Space for a New Imaging Center", © William N. Bernstein, AuntMinnie.com
- "On the Front Lines: A NYC Hospital Engineer's First Hand Account of Sept. 11", Health Facilities Management, © William N. Bernstein (with Michael Rawlings)
- "Floor Planning In a Nutshell", © M. J. Tamas, Advance for Administrators in Radiology
- “Architects Double-Team the Future of Radiology with Experience and a Can-Do Attitude”, © P. Rohland, Advance for Administrators in Radiology
- "Renovated Space, Skywalk `Reconnect' - 4 Floors Up", Health Facilities Management

For Radiology Design see, http://bernarch.com/healthcare-design-radiology/
 For Further Information about Bernstein & Associates, Architects, please contact:
William N. Bernstein, AIA
Principal Bernstein & Associates, Architects - PLLC
59 West 19th Street - 6A New York, NY 10011
Office: 212.463.8200 Fax: 212.463.9898Email: wb@bernarch.com
www.bernarch.com