Gresham Smith realized the 42,000-square-foot expansion and renovation at Steward Health Care Melbourne Regional Medical Center, now home to the Spinal & Orthopedic Surgical Center of Excellence in Melbourne, Florida.

Steward Health Care Melbourne Regional Medical Center’s Spinal & Orthopedic Surgical Center of Excellence provides Brevard County, Florida residents with high-quality, conveniently-located care while enabling surgeons and clinicians to learn about the latest techniques and technologies.

The one-story addition is connected to the hospital via an interior corridor and an outdoor covered walkway, which is adjacent to a patio that provides respite for patients, staff and family members. An exterior screen wall shields the space from Florida’s afternoon sunlight, while a dedicated entrance welcomes visiting surgeons and students. Inside, the modern, clean lobby features integrated lighting and dynamic video displays.

The center’s four operating rooms are larger than the hospital’s current operating rooms to allow for additional cutting-edge equipment. They also feature a seamless floor and modular wall system that eliminates hard-to-reach nooks and crannies for easy cleaning and a modular ceiling system that organizes overhead equipment and mitigates the risk of airborne pathogens. With an eye on the future, the facility’s shell space will allow four additional operating rooms to be added as demand increases. Nineteen prep and recovery bays are arranged in a racetrack configuration around centralized nurse stations, which enhance visibility for care team members. Visiting doctors and students have access to a simulation laboratory for learning new surgical techniques and classrooms with large monitors for observing operations in real-time.

Design: Gresham Smith
Photography: Chad Baumer