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*Featured Project
*: "State-of-the-Art Research Radiology Center" (c)
Bernstein & Assocl, Architects, AIA,
2006"
Construction Photo -
Research Radiology Center, NY,
NY
Architects: (c) Bernstein & Assoc.,
Architects
In
2001, *Bernstein & Assoc., Architects – PLLC* was
honored to be selected as the architect of a new
Research Radiology Center, for a prestigious academic
medical center, in Manhattan. Completed in 2005, this
project has pushed the boundaries of medical and
construction technology, to create a medical research
center of worldwide significance.
The
clinical equipment used in this project is
advanced.
While the standard range for field strength of an
MRI ranges from 0.6 tesla to 1.5 tesla, the Research
Radiology Center was planned around two 3.0 tesla MRI’s
and one 7.0 tesla MRI. The 7.0 tesla
MRI, in particular, is a highly advanced piece of
equipment, one of only a handful to be installed
worldwide.
In
addition to the three high-strength MRI’s, the center
was planned around a 64-slice computed tomography (CT)
Suite.
Clinical support space includes a nursing
station, dressing rooms and patient preparation
rooms.
Research support space includes mechanical shops
and a state-of-the-art conference center. And
administrative support space includes an office wing and
staff lounge.
There were a tremendous number of factors which
had to be taken into account, in order to guarantee the
success of the center. A number of
those factors are described below.
Of
primary importance to this project --- and all projects
involving medical practice --- is the flow of patients,
visitors, and staff. Patient privacy
and patient safety were carefully considered in the
planning of the facility. In particular,
recent guidelines on safe planning of MRI facilities
were carefully studied and incorporated into the
project.
Separate circulation systems for patients, staff
and visitors were established, in addition to separate
entrances for staff, service, and the public.
An
additional and significant factor in the planning of the
center was the correct placement of the high-strength
MRI’s and CT suite on the site. To begin with,
each of the four major pieces of clinical equipment had
to be placed in a manner which would avoid interference
of magnetic and radio-frequency fields between
individual pieces of equipment. Beyond these
considerations, factors such as interference from moving
vehicles on the exterior and mechanical building
equipment on the interior, played an important role in
the siting of the clinical equipment. The crucial
nature of these siting factors was magnified by the
field strength of the MRI’s, as well as the highly urban
nature of the site.
A
complex architectural/engineering infrastructure was
created to support the exacting demands of the center
and its equipment.
From
the perspective of the equipment, the three-dimensional
size requirements --- particularly the 7.0 tesla MRI ---
were substantial.
All three MRI’s impacted the floor below; the 7.0
tesla MRI required a two-story space, and each of the
two 3.0 tesla MRI's, required
structural support on the underside of the floor
slab.
Structural support was an important factor for
the MRI’s themselves, but it was even more important for
support of the magnetic shielding. In the case of
the 7.0 tesla, to address the extraordinary field
strength of the MRI, a customized, unusual steel shield
was designed, in some cases up to 12" thick, with an
overall weight of close to 400 tons. The design,
construction, and installation of a shield this enormous
was essentially a mini-project within the overall
project.
Additional considerations were vibration and
acoustics.
In terms of both vibration and acoustics, the
design essentially aimed to isolate the clinical
equipment.
In the case of vibration, the goal was to meet
the strict criteria of vibration provided by the
equipment manufacturer, to assure proper functioning of
the equipment.
In the case of acoustics, the goal was to
minimize the noise of the equipment within the MRI rooms
themselves, as well as beyond the MRI’s into the
surrounding rooms.
Construction Photo -
Research Radiology Center,
NY, NY
Architects: (c) Bernstein
& Assoc., Architects
Of
course, mechanical/electrical design is an important
part of any health care or laboratory project, and this
was especially true for the Research Radiology
Center.
Intensive and robust HVAC systems were required
to service the multiple demands of the general space,
clinical equipment rooms, and electronic equipment rooms
serving the clinical equipment. On the
electrical side, large power loads, along with complex
distribution and grounding requirements, presented
unusual challenges.
Led
by our architectural firm, the design team included
mechanical/electrical engineers, structural engineers,
vibration consultants, acoustical consultants, and
data/telephone consultants. A complex and
challenging project, the Research Radiology Center
offers hope of new medical discoveries, and this is a
mission that we were proud to be a part of.
By:
William N. Bernstein, AIA
William N.
Bernstein, AIA is principal of two firms in NYC: an
architecture and interior design firm --- Architecture
for Radiology,LLP (www.arch4rad.com)
specializing
exclusively in radiology facility design and
construction --- and a project management firm ---
Empire Projects, Inc. (www.EmpireProjects.com),
specializing in professional management of the design
and construction process. He is a Yale
University-trained architect with more than 25 years
experience in the design and construction of radiology
facilities in the U.S. and Caribbean. Mr. Bernstein is a
member of the American Institute of Architect and the
American Healthcare Radiology Administrators, and can be
contacted at 212-645-0900 or at wb@arch4rad.com. |
