Francis Cauffman designed the Clara Maass Medical Center ICU & MOB Addition for RWJBarnabas Health located in Belleville, New Jersey.

The project was generated to address several key initiatives, including the development of a new facility entry and a comprehensive replacement of the existing ICU. Remaining space is intended to be available to address emerging institutional needs and/or lease space for private physician practices. To date, the institution has taken 8,400 DGSF for an observation unit that provides pressure relief on the adjacent Emergency Department.

This 87,000 SF expansion includes an entirely new entrance, incorporating distinctive design elements. Today, the modern brick and glass facade provide a new front door to the hospital, which includes a 2-story atrium and balcony that overlooks the spacious MOB lobby and central registration suite. The use of a flexible infrastructure classification allows for use of both business occupancy and Institutional care occupancy, providing Clara Maass with the ease and freedom of space assignment.

The MOB expansion was performed in conjunction with a comprehensive replacement of the Hybrid ICU capacity, providing 32 patient beds on the second floor of the MOB addition. The 27,000 SF ICU features all private patient rooms designed to create a relaxing, healing environment, with the potential to house multiple private practice tenants including: Hematology/Oncology Suite, Ophthalmology Ear and Eye Clinic and an Internal Medicine/Multi Specialty Clinic.

The goal of the collaborative design effort between Francis Cauffman, Rendina and RWJBarnabas Health, was to provide connectivity between the existing hospital and it’s addition. The end result is a dynamic, state-of-the-art facility, placing Clara Maass Medical Center at the forefront of medicine.

Architect: Francis Cauffman
Photography: Kevin Chu + Jessica Paul