News

Jul 23, 2023

World’s first prefab operating room with fully automated disinfection technology opens in New York

The operating room is part of the largest orthopedic outpatient facility in the Northeast. The first prefabricated operating room in the world with fully automated disinfection technology opened

The operating room is part of the largest orthopedic outpatient facility in the Northeast.

The first prefabricated operating room in the world with fully automated disinfection technology opened recently at the University of Rochester Medicine Orthopedics Surgery Center in Henrietta, N.Y. The facility, developed in a former Sears store, features a system designed by Synergy Med, called Clean Cube, that had never been applied to an operating space before.

The components of the Clean Cube operating room were custom premanufactured and then shipped to the site to be assembled. The system was installed in a few weeks. It is composed of modular glass walls that are easier to clean than drywall or stainless steel, and hermetically sealed doors. All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are incorporated into the walls and ceiling. Air handling systems tailored for medical use and automated disinfection systems create a sterile field of air around the patient during surgery.

Development of the Clean Cube system was motivated by a 1 in 25 rate of hospital-acquired infections. The technology is billed as delivering “near-perfect disinfection” to the operating room.

The opening of the Orthopedic Surgery Center completes phase 2 of the 350,000 sf University of Rochester Orthopedic & Physical Performance Center. The delivery of the next phase, a four-story rehab and sports performance center that will include a grand courtyard and sports rehab services, is on track for completion in fall 2023.

“The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) will be a defining healthcare project for the country,” says Scott Hansche, principal with SLAM, architect of record for the project. “From a former Sears department store to a world-leading surgery center, we are addressing healthcare equity gaps with quality design and innovation,” Hansche says.

Project team:Owner and/or developer: WilmoriteDesign architect: Perkins&Will's New York studioArchitect of record: The S/L/A/M CollaborativeLocal Associate Architect: Dwyer ArchitecturalMEP/IT Engineer : ME EngineeringStructural Engineer: Jensen BRVGeneral contractor/construction manager: Le ChaseCivil Engineer and Landscape Architect: Bergmann Associates

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This design-build project includes adding six floors for future growth.

The recently released Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11az enables more refined and accurate indoor location capabilities. As technology manufacturers incorporate the new standard in various devices, it will enable buildings, including malls, arenas, and stadiums, to provide new wayfinding and tracking features.

The surrounding environment plays a huge role in the mental state of the occupants of a space, especially behavioral health patients whose perception of safety can be heightened. When patients do not feel comfortable in a space, the relationships between patients and therapists are negatively affected.

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