The Mount Sinai Hospital in the Guggenheim Pavilion has served East Harlem and the surrounding community for more than three decades. When MSHS embarked on a comprehensive renovation to its children’s emergency department (ED), Vanderweil was engaged to provided MEP/FP engineering and lighting design services.

The renovation to the 900,000 sf, 625-bed facility is part of a five-year, multi-phased renovation program. The upgrade to the children’s ED and a redesigned area for walk-in, low acuity adult patients represent the first two phases in MSHS’s ongoing commitment to improving patient care for its 100,000+ annual ED patients.

The footprint of the children’s ED was nearly doubled in size, and design elements such as colorful lighting and an interactive video feature wall help provide a calming atmosphere for the hospital’s young patients. On the adult side of the ED, a new layout allows for better workflow and rapid diagnosis and treatment.

The utility systems serving the ED were upgraded as part of this effort with modern, energy-efficient systems. This included replacing three aging AHUs with two new units, which have 27,000 CFM and 52,000 CFM capacities as well as a clean steam generator for wintertime humidification.

Collectively, these renovations are expected to improve overall patient outcomes; they represent innovations that were a key part of the Association of Medical Facility Professionals recognizing the renovation with its Project of the Year Award – Under $50M.