Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc. (Cuningham Group®) has been recognized with a National Design-Build Project/Team Award for the Sharp Mesa Vista Expansion and Modernization project. The Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital was honored in Design-Build Institute of America's (DBIA) 21st annual Design-Build Project/Team Awards, along with its partner, Swinerton Builders. 

Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital is San Diego County's largest privately operated psychiatric hospital and one of the largest behavioral health providers in the nation. Originally constructed in the 1960s, the facility provides comprehensive behavioral health services for patients experiencing anxiety, bi-polar disorder, depression, dementia, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other conditions. The redesign expanded the facility to 26,800 square feet. 

DBIA’s award program showcases design-build best practices and celebrates the achievements of owners and design-build teams in 10 categories across the spectrum of horizontal and vertical construction. Cuningham Group and Swinerton Builders were honored in the Healthcare Facilities category for exceeding owner expectations for function and durability of finishes for the end users, achieving budget and schedule goals, and for exemplifying an advanced and innovative approach to total integrated project delivery. 

"By showcasing design-build best practices, teaming techniques, contracting methods, and ways to drive innovation, winners of National Design-Build Project/Team Awards provide examples to the rest of the industry on how to achieve Design-Build Done Right," said Lisa Washington, CAE, Executive Director/CEO of DBIA.

Patient-Centered Healthcare Design

Having only undergone minor upgrades since the 1970’s, the renovations are wide in scope, ranging from improving major mechanical components such as HVAC, to vastly improving patient care and staff conditions. In planning its redesign, Cuningham Group involved hospital administration, caregivers, patients and families. Three buildings were transformed over six construction phases, with the hospital continuing to provide care. 

The new facility incorporates the latest in “Planetree” principles of patient-centric healthcare design, said Cuningham Group Associate Principal Steven Ward, AIA.

“This allows the patient and family to integrate more closely with the caregivers,” said Ward. “It understands that exemplary medical treatment combines leading-edge technology with compassionate human interactions. It eliminates unnecessary barriers and opens communication, extending beyond the physical environment to transform wellness culture in the facility.”

Examples at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital include open-plan nurse stations allowing staff to engage with patients and family members, rather than hide behind glass walls. Similarly, new dining facilities open to a garden area, providing healthful and energy-saving daylight. Five new recovery areas are similarly open to daylight.

 Design Highlights:

·         The front entry’s complete re-design provides ADA access and a transformative look and feel, including new tiled exterior façade and water feature.

·         Renovations provide an “open” look that is calming and inviting to patients and families. The location of nurse stations and other integral rooms allows staff to visualize all common spaces and encourages staff, patient and family interactions.

·         The layout and floorplan, combined with furniture, fabrics, and colors, are all thoughtfully designed and selected to include areas that feel comfortable and therapeutic, while maintaining a secure environment for patients, family and staff.

·         Materials are carefully created or selected to avoid an institutional appearance of an incarceration facility, but rather a calming and healing place.  

·         Patient bathroom doors are angled 30 degree at the top edge to eliminate “ligature” (self-harming) points, while still providing privacy and allowing staff to visualize the patient or access the bathroom if needed. Other anti-ligature elements include safety mirrors, paper towel, and toilet paper holders built into the wall and framed with tile.

·         Space layouts and furniture arrangements create peaceful and inspiring spaces incorporating art and nature, while at the same time generating opportunities for therapeutic discussion and interaction.

“The complex redesign was a challenge design-wise because construction occurred while the hospital was fully occupied,” said Ward. “The safety and security of patients was always a number-one consideration. We helped achieve that with the Swinerton team over 24 months of construction, and with an excellent safety record.”

Cuningham Group and Swinerton are currently in design on the next phase of renovations for this facility: The Children and Adolescent Program. This inpatient psychiatric hospital serves children ages five to seventeen.