PKA Architects was grateful to work with the St. Charles Health System in 2012 on the renovation of the fifth floor or the patient tower at St. Charles Medical Center - Bend (SCMC). As the design process proceeded, the scope and desires of the administration evolved.

SCMC is frequently at a full census and the small, oddly-shaped patient rooms on the third and fourth floors were limiting their patient care goals. PKA worked with the team to devise a project to expand the tower by filling in the saw-tooth facade on the third and fourth floors. this project gave those patient rooms on average of 30% increase in their floor plans. The project also completely renovated all three floors of nursing, including all patient rooms, corridors, and support core space.

The new patient rooms, which were mocked up and tested thoroughly by nurses, physicians, and support staff, are a tremendous upgrade to the patient care capabilities of the medical center. The PKA team, in collaboration with SCMC user groups, meticulously reviewed every last detail in each of the rooms. This attention to detail and awareness of the medical staff's needs has created and will continue to create an improved patient experience and a more efficient work environment.