The Healthcare Design Conference and Expo facility tour offers a unique opportunity to showcase some of the most innovative design ideas as well as community strategies in action within the host city. The event this year in New Orleans will include three tours on Saturday, November 4, from 1-5 pm.
For more information on the HCD Conference + Expo, Nov. 4-7 in New Orleans, visit a data-feathr-click track=”true” data-feathr link aids=”5696b4860965ef8389b02a14″>hcdexpo.com/a>. Visit hcdexpo.com for more information on the HCD Conference + Expo in New Orleans from Nov. 4-7.
Delgado Community College – Ochsner Center for Nursing and Allied Health in New Orleans
Delgado Community College (New Orleans)’s new Nursing and Allied Health Building is a significant move forward in consolidating health programs and reflects the institution’s excellence and growth.
This project is the first new classroom on campus since 2015. Delgado Community College has partnered with Ochsner Health to train the future generation of nurses, allied health professionals and other healthcare workers.
Plan a campus expansion
The project brings all nursing and allied programs from three campuses, including the Charity Campus and City Park Campus and Jefferson Campus into one location. The building is home to 22 allied programs, 2 nursing programs, a virtual clinic, staff and college offices, shared classrooms, and testing laboratories.
The new building, located prominently on the front campus, next to the historic Isaac Delgado Hall ties together traditional campus elements and modern architecture. Campus-facing elevations, for example, feature a mix of brick and stones, echoing intricate details and the character of existing building.
The design was delivered by a joint venture between Manning Architects and Mackey Mitchell Architects in St. Louis, Mo. The design is based on promoting integrated healthcare programs, immersive simulator learning, and future expansion. When programming this facility, a major priority was to carefully consider which segments of students could benefit the most from shared connections and inter-disciplinary collaboration. This convergence of educational programs is designed to simulate collaborative patient-care, which will be crucial to students’ success when they enter the real world.
Exterior glazing enhances transparency and allows passers-by to interact visually with the advanced learning space. The educational experience is enhanced by a variety of teaching environments inside, ranging from traditional lecture halls to state-of the-art simulation laboratories. Virtual Hospitals provide realistic simulation learning that allows students to observe and train.
Biophilic design principles
The project was undertaken with great care, not only to comply with the city tree and landscape regulations to maintain the canopy of trees but also to preserve the local vernacular. The mature live oaks that line the arcade on the east side of campus, facing historic City Park are a distinctive feature of local vernacular. Preserving them was crucial to the project’s success. Early on and throughout the construction, an arborist was hired to determine safe trimming and maintenance practices.
The use of native plants creates a colorful and lush environment that compliments the biophilic interior design. The building provides views of the canopy of trees, allowing occupants to experience moments of calm and serenity. The lounge spaces in the canopy provide a respite from the often intense and simulated settings of inpatient care. The multiple exposures to nature in the building are intended to create a stronger connection between students and the natural world throughout their academic journey.
