Mercy Health Graduate Center

The building of the Mercy Health St. Rita’s Graduate Medical Education Center has been completed and is open for students. It is not only important to design health care facilities that are beneficial for the patient but also medical facilities that are designed to help future health care professionals learn their trade.

Mercy Health Graduate Center

St. Rita’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) Center was designed to serve medical students during their residency as a space to learn and study. Each space was designed to precisely mimic the clinical environments in an actual hospital, with equipment and materials that would be used in real world scenarios. Also integrated into the design were a variety of study spaces, uniquely designed based on their nearness to different areas such as the simulation suite, auditorium, and library. Several design and construction decisions for St. Rita’s GME were based on the metaphor of a threshold. This represents the origin of future doctors who will use this space, learning and developing their skills to positively impact the region. It speaks to a new threshold of health, education, and livelihood for both the students and the people who live nearby. The building’s ultimate purpose is to usher in the next generation of doctors and shift Lima, Ohio, into a destination location for medical education and an excellent health system. (Source)

Project Details

Project category: new construction

Chief administrator: Andy Stechschulte, director of facilities, Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center

Firm: Design Collaborative Inc., designcollaborative.com

Design team: Design Collaborative Inc. (architecture, MEP, lighting, interior design); Tuttle Services Inc. (general contractor); Engineering Resources Inc. (civil and
structural engineering); RTM Consultants Inc. (code consultant)

Total building area (sq. ft.): 45,200

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $270

Total construction cost (excluding land): $12.2 million

Completed: April 2021

Marie Wikoff is the creator of Wikoff Design Studio based out of Reno, Nevada. Her expertise in healthcare design has helped modernize healthcare organizations locally, regionally, and internationally, improving patient experience and outcomes. Her credentials include Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC), American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID), the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and LEED AP. Contact Marie Wikoff

Source: Collaborative, Design. “Mercy Health St. Rita’s Graduate Medical Education Center – HCD Magazine.” HCD Magazine – Architecture & Interior Design Trends for Healthcare Facilities, 25 July 2022, https://healthcaredesignmagazine.com/featured-firms-projects/mercy-health-st-ritas-graduate-medical-education-center/.