An ED Expansion That Provides Whole-Patient Care

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Emergency Department Expansion and Renovation

Healthcare

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center (SWMC) is a not-for-profit Catholic hospital serving the Southwest Washington community, which faces a range of complex health and social challenges. The hospital's Emergency Department alone sees nearly 7,000 annual visits for conditions that do not require hospitalization. The facility's Emergency Department expansion and renovation transforms circulation, patient flow, and access, creating a more legible, flexible, and welcoming environment for patients, families, and staff.

The two-level addition houses state-of-the-art treatment, exam, and trauma rooms on the ground floor and a 24-bed observation unit on the second level. Beyond treatment spaces, the expansion introduced a 4,000-square-foot Community Health Hub designed with trauma-informed principles to ensure a safe, inclusive, and restorative environment. The Hub provides support for patients experiencing behavioral health issues, food insecurity, homelessness, or domestic violence, connecting medical care with essential social services.

Location

Vancouver, Washington

Square Feet

62,000

Completion date

February 2026

Project Component

Architecture Services
Interior Design & Space Planning
Medical Planning
Landscape Design & Planning

Certifications

LEED Silver

The design is anchored by three signature elements - lanterns, nature, and shelter - which guide wayfinding and offer a variety of spaces for both community connection and personal respite.

An outdoor landscape provides a visual and physical buffer between the ED expansion and the main hospital, offering visitors and staff a place to step away from hospital activities. The micro-corrugated exterior metal panels create a dynamic interplay of textures and reflections, echoing the rhythm and balance of a forest.

Four light monitors bring natural daylight into the space, placed directly above care stations to connect staff to the changing time of day and serve as subtle wayfinding cues. This gentle infusion of light reinforces the link between environmental wellness and human health.

As a 24/7 operation, the emergency department expansion is designed to emulate a lantern, creating a glowing beacon that guides people and provides a sense of safety.

The two-level ED expansion houses treatment spaces on the ground floor and observation rooms above. The space reflects a deep connection to the Pacific Northwest landscape through regionally inspired materials and natural motifs.

“The PeaceHealth SWMC Emergency Department was a necessity for the Vancouver community. This was a unique building expansion involving complicated integration with active existing building utility systems, and envelope tie-ins at three different existing buildings. The project team genuinely collaborated towards solutions at every hurdle, and PeaceHealth's ED leadership involvement and resilience allowed execution of the construction while maintaining care for our community.”

– Vernon Southerland, Construction Executive at Turner Construction Company

The campus landscape integrates walking paths and resting areas with benches to create a restorative experience for patients, families, and the surrounding community.