Construction crews work on the Critical Care Tower addition to Vanderbilt University Hospital. (photo by Susan Urmy)
Eye Institute opens
The Vanderbilt Eye Institute made its debut in March.
The new facility — located in the South Garage Office Building — houses the Tennessee Lion's Eye Center for Children, a refractive laser suite, diagnostics area, an optical retail shop, departmental offices and designated exam and waiting room areas for all sub-specialty care.
The expanded space has 53 exam rooms.
Expansion approved
In January, the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency approved the Certificate of Need for expansion of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
The new building will house 190 new and relocated obstetrical, pediatric and neonatal intensive care beds. Obstetrical and NICU beds currently in the main hospital will be relocated to the new building, which will be adjacent, and attached to, the existing Children's Hospital.
The 190 beds in the new building will consist of 90 pediatric critical care beds, 36 NICU beds, 36 obstetrical beds, 16 labor and delivery rooms, and 12 antepartum beds. The total licensed beds for the Medical Center will increase to 1,051. Eight additional operating rooms were also approved.
One Hundred Oaks
In February, Pediatric Rehabilitation Services debuted its new facility at Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks.
The office, which will serve about 100 patients a day, or nearly 25,000 visits each year, is the first to move to Vanderbilt's new campus at One Hundred Oaks.
The service provides physical and occupational therapy to patients who have neurologic impairments, orthopaedic injuries, developmental delays, congenital syndromes or other disabilities that impair physical function and health status.
Langford upgrade
After undergoing a complicated renovation, Langford Auditorium reopened in June.
The design and construction team consisted of many Vanderbilt representatives and outside partners including Donald Blair Partners, Turner Universal and a wide array of specialists such as a lighting designer, an acoustical consultant, a mechanical engineer, a structural engineer and a theatrical consultant.
As a result of the remodel, Langford now has the ability to handle more options for stage sets and theatrical productions, and has increased stage lighting capabilities.
New parking garage
Construction began this summer on a new garage that will add 1,400 spaces to Vanderbilt Medical Center's parking inventory.
The $42 million garage is being built between 24th Avenue and 25th Avenue, across from the Blair School of Music on the site of a former surface parking lot. Construction is expected to be complete by fall 2010.
The new garage will consist of 11 levels, with eight underground and three above ground. Of the facility's 1,750 spaces, 1,400 will be dedicated for Medical Center personnel. The remainder will be dedicated for University personnel.
Critical Care Tower
The focal point of the interior of the Critical Care Tower under construction at Vanderbilt University Hospital will be the six-floor atrium, which strives to bring the outside world inside.
All other floors in the tower will have windows that look down on the atrium, and tiered skylights will flood the area with natural light.
Patient rooms will be divided into three zones for staff, patients and families.
The tower is on track for a November 2009 opening and the focus has turned to interior design, a process that was truly a collaborative effort.
Cafeteria changes
After more months of construction, the renovated servery in the Courtyard Café opened in late October and the renovated dining room opened in December.
Servery renovations focused on improving traffic flow and adding more food options. Dining room renovations include a tile floor and paint, an access ramp to the upper seating deck, and new round tables and wooden chairs with cushioned seats.