Case Study

Emory Executive Park Musculoskeletal Institute New Musculoskeletal Institute is True Joint Effort

Brookhaven, GA, USA

The Challenge

Emory Healthcare’s mission is to improve health through integration of education, discovery and health care delivery. Research is at the core of this mission. The new Musculoskeletal Institute, the latest addition to Emory’s Executive Park Innovation District, will aid in the diagnosis, treatment and repair of bones, joints and connective tissue to help people regain physical motion and activity. In imagining the new building, Emory tasked the design team with creating a patient and family-centered facility that would provide orthopedics and spine care, physical therapy, imaging and ambulatory surgery as well as clinical and research space. In addition, they wanted the building to exemplify excellence and innovation and include sustainable features that would meet LEED certification standards.

The Design Solution

Design of the facility was inspired by the Institute’s goal of restoring fluidity of motion as well as the structural components of the human body. The building was organized around the client’s programmatic requirements mindful of optimizing patient flow and efficiency. Research, education and discovery functions were elevated to the top floor which features a protruding triangular form that signifies breaking through to innovative treatments. The research floor is bisected with conference, office and administrative functions occupying one side of the floor and labs, histology, biomechanics and molecular imaging occupying the other side. Lab, conference and office spaces are located on the perimeter of the floor to provide students and faculty with maximum access to natural light. Smart building technologies were incorporated to reduce energy and water consumption and provide touchless surfaces in common areas.

The Design Impact

The new facility has enhanced Emory’s reputation as a leader in specialty medicine and allowed it to attract and retain top students and faculty. The facility has also enhanced access and care for patients throughout the Atlanta region and beyond.

Project Features

  • 180,000 sf (16,722 sm)
  • Orthopedics
  • Spine care
  • Physical therapy
  • Imaging
  • Ambulatory surgery
  • 4 ORs
  • 6 procedure rooms
  • Clinical lab
  • Discovery research
  • 11,400 sf laboratory space (1,059 sm)
  • Targeting LEED Silver

Awards

  • 2022 World Architecture Festival Finalist, Completed Buildings: Health

From the location choice to architecture design to staffing, the formation of the Emory Musculoskeletal Institute directly aligns with Emory Healthcare’s mission to serve humanity by improving health through integration of education, discovery and health care delivery.

President and CEO and chairman of the board of Emory Healthcare