St. Vincent Medical Centre. Los Angeles – (U.S.A.)

Abstract

The building for the new St. Vicent Hospital, considered among the most important medical centers in Los Angeles, particularly for cardio-vascular medicine, has five patient- room storeys and three lower floors housing the medical specialities of the Centre. The arrangement of the typical floors around a central core, containing lifts, staircases and common services, permits a convenient and functional organization of the space. The total built-up area is 32,800 m² with a hospital capacity of 385 beds, 314 of which area destined to patients in serious condition and 71 for surgery. The aim of the architects was to design a highly efficient building from the standpoint of medical functionality, while at the same time, avoiding the cold institutional feeling, providing instead a warm and humane atmosphere both from the outside and in the interiors.