University Health System

­Women's and Children's Bed Tower Clinical Lab

Portions of the 38,160-gsf clinical lab will be included in the expansion of a new 12-story, 300-bed hospital tower that will provide synergies between women and children’s services in a modern, advanced and coordinated environment that supports family and patient-centered care as well as teaching and research missions.

Sections within the clinical lab include donor services, chemistry-coagulation-hematology, point of care, microbiology, anatomic pathology-histology and transfusion services.

HERA established the lab’s needs and vision for its future. Knowing the building is limited to 17,000 sf for the clinical lab, HERA studied critical adjacencies with users to determine which areas to include. Applying Lean techniques, HERA generated an ideal-flow diagram and future-state blocking concept plans to improve flows and efficiencies and address space constraints. The new plan allows for adaptability as processes and equipment changes in the future and embraces the system’s academic and research mission.

HERA reviewed and coordinated automation equipment needs for the labs, accommodating initiatives such as gene therapy and cytogenetics. The new lab permits future growth in test volumes.

In addition to operational efficiencies, the new tower also incorporates quality of life improvements such as closer break rooms, personal storage space and clear segregation between clean and dirty spaces.

Location

San Antonio, Texas

Size

600,000 GSF (overall) 17,000 DGSF (lab)

Services

Laboratory programming, planning and design

Architect

Marmon Mok