Grace Hebert Curtis Architects designed The Grove at Ochsner Medical Complex to offer a holistic, coordinated healthcare experience for patients in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The 25-acre property is anchored by a 155,000-square-foot Medical Office Building that houses more than 85 providers supporting primary care, urgent care and multi-specialty clinics. The building also offers X-ray, MRI, and CT scan capabilities as well as laboratories, a pharmacy and retail food services.

Attached to the MOB is a 30,000-square-foot, 10-bed micro-hospital – a smaller inpatient unit offering robust services in a more intimate healthcare setting. Also adjacent to the MOB is a Surgical Center that consists of four state-of-the art operating rooms, two gastrointestinal procedure suites and two pain management procedure rooms as well as the ability to perform general; ear, nose and throat; orthopedic; gynecology; and urology surgeries. The new facility increases specialty care at this location to include thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, pediatric subspecialties and other surgical specialties.

To adhere to the desired 24-month schedule, the project was designed for rapid deployment and installation using curtainwalls and massive precast concrete wall panels. HVAC and plumbing systems were fabricated and pre-stacked off-site, then lifted simultaneously into place on-site. The innovative “pipe tree” approach allowed for expedited installation of multiple stories of piping and systems in just hours, keeping the project within budget and schedule. Exit stairs and mechanical, electrical, elevator and IT systems were located thoughtfully along the building’s perimeter to further facilitate expansion.

The facility balances cutting-edge technology with interior and exterior spaces that create a uniquely low-stress patient and staff experience. The natural light-filled space features soft, organic textures and materials that continue throughout the co-located clinical, surgical, laboratory, pharmacy and dining spaces.

Architect: Grace Hebert Curtis Architects
Photography: Mark Bienvenu