Elevators and corridors—a smooth operating network for the Glen Campus

Elevators and service corridors are probably not the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about hospital design. But would you believe that many design development workshops on these two subjects are currently being held in preparation for the Glen Campus?
 
In close collaboration with the New MUHC Users Groups, architects are planning, in detail, the numerous dedicated elevators that will allow the separation of all the activities and users on the campus. This way, visitors won’t cross paths with patients in stretchers being transferred between services and waste won’t be transported in the same circuit as sterilized medical supplies.
 
Another way that optimal elevator usage will be ensured is that restocking of supplies on all floors will be performed at night, a good time to do it because many other services are closed.
 
To improve service corridors (supply stations), the agile assemblies area will also be implemented. These areas, strategically placed in the centre of care units, will allow for better management of supplies used daily by clinical staff. The restocking of supplies will also be simplified because carts with predefined content drawers will be used. When a team runs low on something, they will simply need to ask for a new drawer instead of ordering each item individually. Laundry chutes and used food trays will also be stored in the agile assemblies area.
 
Logistics planning has been key to the design development process—as with any well-oiled machine, all parts must be working together to ensure overall success.