As a result of various relocation projects, an 11,100-sf patient floor became available and Albany Medical Center commissioned Hyman Hayes Associates to plan and design a $1.7-mllion renovation of the space into a medical/surgical nursing unit.

The final layout provides seven double rooms and eight private rooms for a total of 22 beds. The floor's layout provides patient rooms along the exterior perimeter, with services at the center core. The nurses' station is immediately adjacent to the suite entrance and has counters facing patient rooms on both sides of the floor. An enclosed staff work room off the nurses' station allows a private area for patient case discussions while vision panels maintain connection to the unit activities.

Timing of the project required two phases allowing only one-half of the floor's length to be available at the start of construction, which created the challenge of designing and working around existing services without disruption.