PhiloWilke worked with UTMB Galveston to renovate their Level 1 Trauma Emergency Department with a contemporary design and furnishing trends to incorporate a modern feel to the historic facility. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston’s trauma center is one of the busiest in the state, offering 24/7 trauma, surgical, and specialty care with a full range of specialists, surgeons, and equipment. UTMB desired its emergency department to improve its staff workflow, better reflect its brand, elevate the patient experience within the critical public and patient care spaces, and enhance the pedestrian transit pathways into the department.
Recognizing the importance of minimizing the disruption to an active ER and understanding the ongoing supply chain challenges post-pandemic, our team embedded the latest trends of design and material selections to provide a seamless construction process. We explored how distinctive artwork, kinetic art installation, and finish material selections aid in enhancing the typically loud, hectic, and stressful emergency department environment into a soft, calming experience.
Adding to this already challenging environment, the city of Galveston, Texas, is a significant tourism-based cruise ship port and event destination. During the life span of this case study, events included Mardis Gras, Spring Break, and the summer season kick-off. All these contribute to a year-round potential demand for emergency and trauma services. In addition to the public demands, the UTMB Galveston campus remains active as a teaching, research, and clinical space with a highly aggressive schedule. Working collaboratively, we used an integrated team approach to achieve the new workflow patterns, patient spaces, and wayfinding within the limited time frame and complete construction within five months.
