Emergency Department, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC

exterior Emergency Department at Duke University Hospital

interior design Emergency Department at Duke University Hospital

waiting room Emergency Department at Duke University Hospital

The Emergency Department at Duke University Hospital, located in Durham, NC and designed by Perkins Eastman, planning and architectural services for a 37,000 sf emergency department expansion for a Level 1 Trauma Center to accommodate 95,000 annual visits. The first project phase adds 42,000 square feet and the second renovates 23,500 square feet of existing space. The project features two fully equipped x-ray rooms, a food-service area, a forensic patient facility, and electronic medical charting in each room. Four new triage rooms and four new trauma centers ensure high-quality care under the most emergent circumstances.

The Pediatric Emergency Department sought a traditional model with combined staff and patient circulation to enable patient interactivity and immediate observation by family for quick assessments. Wood finishes create a warm, friendly atmosphere with child-sized furniture and shelves for toy storage. Murals, signs, and tiles on the bathroom floor feature scenes of mountains, beaches, and sea creatures. The Pediatric Emergency Department contains 18 beds, two critical-care rooms, isolation rooms, a separate entrance, and a waiting room.

The facility takes a holistic approach to family centered care and was designed with separate accommodations for children and adults, each with a planning model customized to its operational goals. An extended series of simulations were done to measure patient experiences against national benchmarks.

The design team made efforts to keep staff and patient areas clearly separated throughout the facility. A peripheral hallway creates a circulation path for patients to enter exam rooms while remaining separate from the staff core. In the central staff core, alcoves store important equipment without blocking circulation.