Expanded care, closer to home

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) engaged Flad to master plan and design a new, greenfield hospital campus to bring top-ranked medical and emergency services closer to home to the rapidly expanding community south of Sarasota.

The hospital was designed to create a welcoming and comfortable experience for patients, visitors, and staff. With extensive use of high-performance glass on the building's exterior, interior spaces are filled with natural light and feature strong indoor-outdoor connections, views to the landscaped campus, local artwork, and natural materials – resulting in a unique atmosphere that inspires healing and hope for all.

To create an enhanced patient experience, our team carefully considered the entirety of the patient journey, including their time prior to entering the building. Thoughtful site planning and clear, visible entry points that mimic an airport drop-off create focused entries and provide clarity for those coming to the site in a state of distress. From the expansive, double-height lobby, visitors and families are directed to registration, imaging, and surgical services, with contemporary food and nutrition amenities within view. The main hospital entrance is opposite a central courtyard livened by a warmly lit water feature that adds outdoor seating and provides a central landmark visible from the primary interior pathway to enhance orientation and wayfinding.

The five-story, 452,000-square-foot hospital offers a full slate of medical and surgical care and includes a 28-bed emergency care center; 110 private patient suites, including ten serene birthing suites with custom, spa-like bathrooms; and a cutting-edge surgical center. A seamlessly connected, two-story medical office building provides direct access to complementary, outpatient services in a one-visit care setting. The facility was master planned to expand to more than double its size, including three patient towers planned for the backside of the hospital, protecting the front door and patient experience from any future disruption.

As a testament to the quality of care offered and the need in the community, the hospital was at capacity within a week of opening.