Project Description

For over 150 years, Renown Health has served as the leading healthcare provider in the Reno, Nevada region. Perkins&Will’s two-campus transformation enhances the facility’s clinical care model, upgrades infrastructure, and improves the overall experience for patients, staff, and visitors. The master plan included a full fit-out of the Tahoe Tower ninth floor ICU, which optimizes user health and comfort while contributing to a more sustainable built environment and circular economy. As a future-facing initiative, Perkins&Will transformed the ninth floor into a Pandemic Unit in preparation for any future health crises. The ninth-floor unit is equipped for independent air exhaustion from the rest of the tower in the event of an emergency situation. The design team drew inspiration from the spirit of Reno, Northern Nevada, and the Truckee meadows by tracing the Truckee River as it traverses through time, geography, flora, and fauna between Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake. The renovations and additions of the master plan reflect the spirit of the land, emphasizing the patient journey and drawing on natural shapes and tones from the mountain peaks to the plains of the great basin. The design unites the new and existing facilities under one cohesive identity, continuing Renown’s commitment to the community for generations to come. The design of the ninth floor ICU fit out prioritizes the health, safety, and wellbeing of patients, staff, and the greater environment. To improve collaboration and patient care, Perkins&Will incorporated maximum glazing for visibility across the unit. Within each ICU patient room, Electronic Intensive Care Unit (eICU) technology brings in expert care from physicians spanning the globe. The team also implemented strategies for infection prevention across the design, incorporating smooth surfaces with solid surface countertops and integral bowls, recessed toiletry shelves and seamless flooring in the patient rooms and toilets. Offset drains also help with infection prevention and reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by bacterial growth in sinks and pipes. The Armstrong ceiling tiles are anti-bacterial and can hold up to disinfectant cleaners. Perkins&Will implemented many design choices that directly impact patient and staff comfort. The team selected carpet and rubber flooring that aids underfoot comfort, critical for nurses and doctors who are on their feet all day. Similarly, the carpet and rubber flooring maximize acoustical comfort and sound absorption, combined with acoustical panels in offices, multipurpose rooms, and consult rooms. Armstrong ceiling tiles provide noise control with high noise reduction coefficient values. LED lighting throughout includes labeled lighting controls that can be dimmed and lowered based upon personal preference. Patient rooms all have three-way overhead lights, ambient lighting at the footwall, and a reading light in the family zone. Natural daylighting comes through across the floor plate due to the glazing incorporated in the patient rooms and nurse stations. The natural lighting can then be controlled by bringing down the roller shades at the exterior windows or closing the integral blinds at the interior windows. In recognition of the positive impact that art can have on patients, family, and staff, Perkins&Will developed a thoughtful and extensive art program alongside Renown and consultant Indiewalls that ties to both the creative and artistic culture of the Reno community as well as the natural beauty of the landscapes across the Truckee River. The team focused on diversity and inclusion by tying the local community into this art program that spans the corridors, waiting spaces, and patient rooms. In addition to the art program, Perkins&Will incorporated biophilic design through choices such as carpeting with organic patterns that resembles the water of the Truckee river. The team also created in-house custom graphics of mountains which seamlessly blend into the surrounding mountain views. Beautiful respite spaces— both individual and group lounges—encourage staff members to take a moment away from the stresses of the ICU unit to regroup, refocus, and recharge. Across all material selections, Perkins&Will carefully considered material health and indoor air quality. The nora rubber flooring has a no-wax finish, is PVC-free, GREENGUARD Gold Certified and free of other halogenated polymers and phthalate plasticizers. Paint and adhesives contain low to zero VOCs. The team also incorporated Shaw’s non-PVC EcoWorx backing and recycled content in the carpet face fiber using EcoSolution Q100. Materials were also selected for durability and cleanability to ensure that they would last without needing to be frequently replaced and ending up in a landfill. These materials included impact-, scratch-, and soil-resistant ceiling tiles and solution-dyed carpet tiles. To contribute to a healthy environment and circular economy, all carpet and rubber flooring is Cradle to Cradle Silver. The ceiling tiles are USDA certified Biobased content and all ceilings can be recycled using the Armstrong Ceilings Recycling Program. All carpet and rubber flooring is carbon neutral. LED and occupancy light sensors cut down on electricity usage while the influx of natural light decreases the need for lights during the day. High-reflective finishes also help with energy savings. Perkins&Will’s design for Renown’s new ICU unit embodies the spirit of the region while delivering top-of-the-line clinical environments that maximize wellness at all scales.