VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System First Floor Upgrades

The Seven Generations Architecture + Engineering (7GAE) | Alliance Consulting joint venture team provided full A/E design services for approximately 21,500 square feet of renovations and upgrades throughout the first floor of Building 1E.

The goal was to enhance the interior to promote a feeling of cohesiveness, improve patient wayfinding, and create a calming atmosphere that feels less institutional.

Renovations resulted in a new phlebotomy clinic, a specialty clinic, women’s clinic, call center, and 11,200 square feet of significant upgrades and modernization to the main circulation corridors.

The phlebotomy clinic will feature new space for administrative offices, a blood draw room, a laboratory, and restrooms. The specialty clinic will include a new registration area, exam rooms, work rooms, and utility rooms. The women’s clinic will feature a new waiting room, registration area, offices, exam rooms, ultrasound rooms, utility rooms, and restrooms.

New durable materials will support heavy-traffic patterns and include seamless epoxy terrazzo flooring, woodgrain fiber-reinforced plastic laminate paneling, wall protection wainscoting, and handrails.

Design features such as intentional floor patterns, accent lighting, and artwork function as wayfinding elements. Warm wood-look vinyl plank flooring, cool accent paint colors, and organic textures and patterns instill a nature-inspired environment promoting health and healing.

Security improvements throughout consist of new badging, alarm monitoring, asset management, digital video management, intrusion detection, visitor enrollment, remote access level management, and integrated security workstations. In addition, plumbing, HVAC systems, and LED lighting were upgraded.

Construction phasing posed a challenge since many renovations affected the main corridor and adjacent clinical spaces. Our design team addressed this by developing clear construction sequencing plans to redirect traffic during construction.