University of Iowa, Institute for Orthopaedics

It makes no difference whether University of Iowa supporters are shouting “Go Hawks” from a fan-filled stadium or a family-lined sofa; they’re equally proud of their beloved institution’s long-standing tradition of athletic excellence. While the institution is infinitely proud of its achievements on the playing field, it is incredibly eager to demonstrate its growing dominance off the field as well at its newly constructed Institute for Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Operated under the auspices of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the 26,000 SF facility houses the university’s sports medicine department, which serves the needs of its collegiate athletes. With its emphasis on orthopaedics, sports medicine, imaging and rehabilitation services, the new facility is also designed to meet the growing needs of active Iowans of all ages who have sports-related injuries or simply want to maintain or enhance their mobility.

“The purpose of this new facility is to be able to bring together under one roof the professionals involved in sports medicine that had previously been located in different areas of the hospital,” says Institute Director Dr. Ned Amendola. “The rehab and primary care sports medicine areas, for example, were separated from the orthopaedic clinics. Radiology and imaging were also separated from the clinics. When departments are separated, you can communicate by phone or e-mail, but the physical distance creates boundaries. Our goal was to be able to mingle and discuss ideas in order to advance the practice of sports medicine.”

“One of our greatest challenges was creating a state-of-the-art LEED certified healthcare facility on a tight budget,” says Heery Architect and Project Designer Doug Infelt. “Given the program’s long term goals, we also knew we had to build in room for expansion on what was also a tight, environmentally sensitive site.”

To help formulate a program that met the myriad of user requirements for form and function, Infelt reached out to Heery peers that had previously worked on high profile sports medicine and athletic facilities. “We had some 30 people in our first charette, ranging from key doctors and administrators to physical therapists and nurses,” Infelt says. “Not only did we share trends in sports medicine facilities across the country, we discussed Dr. Amendola’s vision that the public face of this facility should be about recovery, training, and getting and staying fit.”

Heery selected metal as the predominant exterior material both to meet budget requirements as well as tie into the architectural context being established on the university’s west campus. “Clearly, healthcare facilities house sensitive equipment,” Infelt notes. “Metal, because it expands and contracts, can impact sensitive equipment. Our team spent a great deal of time assessing the potential deflection of the structure so we could determine isolation needs for the sensitive equipment.”

The newly opened facility, however, is all about movement. The gently sloping metal and glass structure implies an easy sort of mobility. The first thing visitors see from the parking lot is the wide bank of windows which offers a clear view into the 7,500 SF exercise area. Those same windows provide ample daylight for patients as they work towards rehabilitation. “One of the unique challenges in designing the exercise area was determining how to provide a level of privacy to patients using the hydrotherapy pool in an otherwise open area,” Infelt says. “Obviously, we wanted those patients to benefit from daylight but didn’t want them to feel like they were on display. We ultimately frosted a portion of the glass, allowing patients to see out, but minimizing other patients’ ability to see in.”

An open-air sensibility also permeates the reception and waiting area. Visitors are surrounded by sports, from the sleek rowing shell hanging from the high ceiling and glass-encased Hawkeye sports memorabilia, to the brightly colored contemporary mural depicting athletes in motion. Dr. Amendola believes patients appreciate the bright, airy space. “Heery fit the building in nicely with the existing environment,” he says.

“Iowa Hawkeye colors form the backbone of the interior design theme,” Infelt adds. “We use the logo along with sports-oriented art as a wayfinding tool, helping patients navigate the facilities.” The facility itself is laid out in a very simple fashion. “Essentially, we created a variety of zones. First there’s the public waiting and reception zone, with shelled space for a future café featuring a nutritionally balanced menu. Then there are the clinic, imaging, and rehab and fitness zones. We developed the adjacencies to fit their current requirements.”

Dr. Amendola appreciates the simple layout. “Iowa’s personality is more about being effective, functional and practical, than being glamorous,” he offers.

There’s no question that the building functions at a remarkably high level, allowing the medical team to reach new heights in areas such as research, community outreach and sports performance, not to mention quality of patient care. “One of the things I appreciate most about this building is that I can walk with a patient to physical therapy and discuss their care with the therapist,” Dr. Amendola adds. “If they need a brace or special equipment, I can talk it over with the orthotist. This space enables us to work together and communicate in a way that allows us to provide better patient care.”