Highline Medical Center has opened a new $38 million, 75,000-square-foot building on its main campus in Burien, Washington, that houses a state-of-the-art Emergency Department and Patient Care Unit in order to meet the healthcare needs of the growing region. NAC Architecture designed the three-story
Birch Wing, an addition to the existing hospital, to support a future vertical expansion of three additional floors. The Birch Wing houses a 27,000-square-foot Emergency Department on the main floor; a 21,500-square-foot, 31-bed Patient Care Unit for medical and cancer patients on the second floor; and a 27,000-square-foot parking garage on the lower level.
Designed to be converted to Laboratory and Imaging departments in the future, the parking garage features a public elevator with direct, 24-hour connection to the Emergency Department above. The Emergency Department contains 32 private exam/treatment rooms, including two major-trauma response rooms. The Patient Care Unit has 21 private rooms and five semi-private rooms as well as generously proportioned family activity and waiting areas.
Originally conceived six years ago in the master plan NAC Architecture completed for Highline Medical Center, the Birch Wing project generated significant support among community members, resulting in a successful fundraising campaign. NAC Architecture has designed many other projects for Highline Medical Center, including the Cedar Wing addition, and the Medical Pavilion and Cancer Care Center.