Stand-Alone Emergency Department Design

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WakeMed Health & Hospitals

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Wendell, North Carolina

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24,800 SF

This image shows the WakeMed Emergency Room. The entrance features a prominent canopy with bright red

This image shows another interior view of what appears to be the same healthcare facility. A curved reception desk with wood paneling and white countertops is positioned in the foreground, where a male staff member is seated at a computer speaking with a patient. The patient is a woman with shoulder-length hair wearing a green sweater and using crutches, suggesting she may be there for an orthopedic issue. In the background left, a healthcare worker in gray scrubs can be seen exiting through a wooden door. The waiting area is visible in the background right, where several patients are seated on modern furniture with patterned upholstery. A wall-mounted television and some decorative elements like small plants add to the welcoming atmosphere. The overall design balances clinical functionality with comfort to create a less institutional, more patient-friendly environment.

The image shows the interior of a modern healthcare facility or hospital reception area. There's a high ceiling with white drop tiles and clerestory windows allowing natural light. The space features a reception desk with wood-toned cabinetry and white countertops where a staff member in scrubs is working at a computer. In the foreground, a healthcare worker in gray scrubs is pushing a person in a wheelchair across the lobby toward glass entrance doors. The interior has a clean, minimalist design with neutral colors, including light wood elements, white walls, and patterned flooring with beige and gray stripes. Recessed lighting and wall-mounted light fixtures illuminate the space, which appears spacious and designed for accessibility.

This image shows a modern healthcare facility, focusing on a reception area with a curved wood and white counter desk. A staff member is seated at the reception desk working at a computer terminal, while a person in gray clothing walks past carrying what looks like papers or documents. The space features a high ceiling with contemporary linear wall-mounted light fixtures and clerestory windows bringing in natural light. The ceiling combines white drop panels with wooden slat sections, creating visual warmth. In the background, a waiting area is visible with several people seated, and there appears to be signage on the wall that might indicate the name of the facility. The overall design maintains the clean, bright aesthetic with neutral tones, combining functionality with a welcoming atmosphere typical of modern healthcare environments.

Medical facility corridor showing active patient care operations. A healthcare worker in gray scrubs exits a treatment room with sliding glass doors, while inside the room medical equipment and a patient bed are visible with ceiling-mounted examination lights. Down the hallway, a professional in a white coat walks past another staff member transporting a patient in a wheelchair. The corridor features safety handrails along both walls, a non-slip floor with directional markings, and recessed lighting. The neutral-colored space is designed for efficient patient transport with doorways wide enough to accommodate medical equipment and stretchers.

This image shows an examination room in the healthcare facility, featuring a modern medical bed with purple sheets and a light blue pillow. Next to the bed is an ultrasound or imaging machine with a touchscreen control panel and wall-mounted monitor displaying what appears to be scan results. The room includes built-in cabinetry with wood-grain finishes, a sink area, and medical supply dispensers on the wall. A healthcare worker in gray scrubs can be seen walking into an adjacent utility room. The space has an

This image shows a large commercial HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) unit manufactured by Daikin installed on a rooftop or mechanical yard. The beige/tan unit features exposed cooling coils with copper piping and appears to be an air-cooled chiller or rooftop package system. It's mounted on a concrete pad within a fenced mechanical area with metal walls. Various components are visible including insulated pipes, refrigerant lines, and electrical connections. The unit is placed in an outdoor setting with trees visible beyond the enclosure and under a blue sky with wispy clouds. This type of equipment would typically serve the climate control needs of a larger facility, such as a healthcare building.

This image shows the mechanical room or utility plant of the healthcare facility, containing an extensive network of building systems equipment. The space features numerous pipes of varying sizes with color-coded insulation (blue, white, red, yellow), pumps, pressure gauges, valves, and control systems. On the right side is what appears to be a BoilerMate water heating system or similar equipment. The left wall contains green circulation pumps and various pressure gauges. The ceiling is open with exposed mechanical infrastructure, including ventilation ducts, electrical conduits, and support systems. The floor is unfinished concrete, typical for utility spaces. This behind-the-scenes area houses the essential mechanical systems that support the facility's operations, including HVAC, plumbing, and possibly medical gas systems, all carefully organized with clear access paths for maintenance.

BSA is advancing its long-standing partnership with WakeMed through a new stand-alone emergency department (SAED) design in Wendell Falls, North Carolina. After previously completing pre-design and schematic design services, BSA delivered comprehensive design solutions for the new SAED. This integrated facility, located on nearly 11 acres, also includes a medical office building.

Located just 15 miles east of Raleigh, Wendell Falls features more than 2 million square feet of residential, mixed-use commercial space, parks, and open green areas. The new WakeMed facility will further enrich the region’s access to high-quality, efficient emergency and outpatient care.

WakeMed has been refining its SAED model since 2004. This fifth-generation facility is a “right-sized” model for the community. It features four triage rooms, 12 exam rooms (including one trauma bay), lab services, CT and outpatient imaging (X-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, mobile MRI access, and essential support spaces. The goal is to provide timely and effective care to a growing population. The SAED has an anticipated patient volume of nearly 30,000 visits annually.

To inform the project, BSA conducted a Functional Post-Occupancy Evaluation (FPOE) of WakeMed’s two most recent SAEDs. The findings were directly applied to this project’s planning and design to elevate operational efficiency and patient experience. This tailored, stand-alone emergency department design exemplifies BSA’s commitment to continuous improvement and strategic innovation in healthcare environments.

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Disciplines

Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Planning

Project Contact

Michael Ferment

Stand-Alone Emergency Department Design

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