A ground breaking ceremony was held for the new BPAMEI center

A ground breaking ceremony was held for the new BPAMEI center

Jun 27, 2015  | Architecture 

A ground breaking ceremony was held for the new BPAMEI center
(Photo by: Gresham, Smith and Partners)

Gresham, Smith and Partners announced a ground breaking ceremony was held for the new 70,000 square-foot Bascom Palmer August Medical Eye Institute (BPAMEI) designed by the firm.

The freestanding ambulatory care center, to be located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is the eye care provider’s first international venture and is designed to bring a world-class level of care to the region. 

The ceremony was hosted by SOZA Group and attended by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development. Speakers at the event included Mr. Suhail Jaffar Al Zarouni, founder and CEO of both August Medical, USA, and SOZA group; Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Dean, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., Chairman, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute; UAE, Dr. Zain Kenderian, Chief Medical Officer, August Medical; and Frank Swaans, Vice President of Global Healthcare Services, Gresham, Smith and Partners. 

“We are proud to continue our work with Bascom Palmer and support their expansion efforts outside of the United States,” commented Matthew G. Harrell, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP, project manager and senior vice president at GS&P. “As the top-ranked eye hospital in the United States making its mark in a new international market, it was imperative the design of this facility be representative of the world-class, quality care that is provided within. Conceived in the image of a gem with the glass symbolic of the qualities and functions of the human eye, the design creates an iconic, identifiable brand image. While the exterior and building envelope are designed to protect and flourish in the harsh desert environment, the interiors are designed with a focus on providing a hospitality-like setting for patients, and an environment where staff will thrive.” 

The facility is programmed to provide comprehensive outpatient eye care services, from exams to refractive Lasik procedures. Envisioned to provide high-quality, hospitality-oriented patient service, the facility will also serve as an educational resource to local physicians and caregivers. The facility design is comprised of 34 exam rooms including visual field, long-eye lanes and photo rooms; a refractive suite with two Lasik rooms; an OSD/ERG clinic; an ambulatory surgery suite with three operating suites and Femto laser room; an optical shop and lab; a pharmacy and auditorium; a landscaped atrium with café; VIP waiting and amenities; and prayer rooms.

To optimize staff efficiency and patient flow, exam rooms are arranged in a “pod” configuration, accessed by separate corridors for staff/materials and patients. Exam rooms are allocated for effective staffing ratios and ease of access from tech work areas. Because Bascom Palmer’s business plan projects growth in this facility, the center is designed to accommodate vertical and horizontal expansion. 

For this project, GS&P worked closely with Julio Ripoll, AIA, who provided ophthalmology design expertise and space planning support for clinics, surgery, Lasik and diagnostic functions and specialty support services such as pharmacy and optical retail. GS&P and Julio Ripoll worked with BPEI to oversee design and construction of several of the institute’s other facilities, including a new medical office building and ambulatory surgery center currently under construction in Naples, Fla., an ambulatory surgery center in Palm Beach, Fla., UHealth Plantation in Plantation, Fla. and the University of Miami Ann Bates Leach Eye Hospital in Miami, Florida.

Via Gresham, Smith and Partners
Image,video ©: Gresham, Smith and Partners