HGA designed the world-class Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center as a place for specialty care in Akron, Ohio.

The Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center in Ohio is one of only a few specialty hospitals in the world dedicated exclusively to orthopaedic, musculoskeletal and reconstructive care. Located in a beautiful, park-like setting, the hospital is an oasis of calm providing restful spaces that support the healing process. With 12 operating rooms and 60 private patient rooms across three floors, the hospital offers orthopaedic surgery, reconstructive/plastic surgery and inpatient post-surgical care, as well as physical therapy, diagnostic radiology imaging services and a QuickCare facility to provide urgent care for sports and orthopaedic injuries.

HGA, in partnership with IKM and Turner Construction, achieved Crystal Clinic’s goals through a collaborative, design-forward process. The team focused on designing an efficient, but welcoming, comfortable environment. The human scale of the building creates an immediate sense of comfort, and on upon entering there is a logical sequence for patients, supported by hotel-like lounges positioned next to windows with views to nature outside and a sophisticated, warm color palette.

The main entry is dynamic, combining glass that is quite reflective with deep inset windows to create a sculptural effect. The sizeable structure is designed to feel approachable with textured brick and glass and park-like landscaping that invites people to explore. Upon entering the building there is a sense of openness and the introduction of material choices that recall a boutique hotel. Waiting areas are partially obscured by a series of angled privacy walls and take advantage of a two-story lounge with soft seating, bar-style high-top counters and low-set tables and warm colors to invite people in. An adjacent café and small dining area, open to a landscaped outdoor lounge.

The first floor also includes clinical areas for pre-admission testing and the QuickCare Clinic. Exam rooms use sliding barn doors to maximize usable space, while shared technology resources include a general x-ray room, ultrasound, a CT room, and procedure room. The dedicated MRI room has an illuminated ceiling with a nature-themed design, while multicolored, indirect LED lighting is concealed along the room’s perimeter, creating a calming atmosphere.

On the second floor there is a pre-op waiting area with a walkout balcony showcasing views of surrounding trees, a nearby pond and the patio below. From the waiting area, patients are transitioned into a series of pre-op rooms arranged in pods of five, with five rooms per corridor and support functions situated in the middle. The 12 operating rooms are in a U-shape around a central sterile processing unit to support efficiency. The ORs are equipped with advanced technologies such as a Stryker robotic surgical arm for knee and hip replacements, plus ExactechGPS computerized navigation for joint replacement surgery to support surgery and post-surgical outcomes.

The top floor houses patient rooms that continue the hospitality influence with muted color palettes, smart TVs and private, tiled bathrooms with anti-slip flooring. Each room contains a closet with a safe for personal belongings, as well as a couch that can be converted into a bed for patients’ guests. Perimeter rooms showcase views of the hospital’s landscaped, tree-lined grounds, while interior rooms surround a central courtyard with a live roof, including Japanese maple trees and annual flowers. In addition to views of nature, many rooms feature framed photographs of nature scenes taken by one of Crystal Clinic’s doctors.

Located near the patient rooms are physical therapy facilities, including a set of stairs, a bathtub and a mock automobile that can be set at different heights to emulate cars, SUVs and trucks. Benches are situated along corridors for patients to use as they start to move after surgery, supporting Crystal Clinic’s goal of getting patients back to everyday activities after surgery.

Community involvement was integral to the design process, down to the artwork. Collaborations with local artists are featured in both the public and patient realms, highlighting the talents of individual artists and their connection to the community.

Design: HGA
Architect of Record: IKM Inc.
Contractor: Turner Construction
Photography: Kendall McCaugherty | Hall+Merrick+McCaugherty Photographers