FIRM PROFILE
HEALTHCARE PRACTICE
STEWARDSHIP THROUGH DESIGN
THE COMPANY WE KEEP
ADVISOR SERVICES
ACUTE CARE
RURAL HEALTH
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDINGS
ONCOLOGY
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CONSOLIDATED SERVICE CENTERS
WHY MPS?
With studios throughout the Carolinas and Georgia, McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) is always nearby, dedicated to the communities and clients we serve.
Our team of architects, planners, and interior designers is committed to creating functional, enduring, costeffective, and iconic built environments. With expertise across markets including education, healthcare, commercial, civic, and multi-family living, clients and communities benefit from diverse, collaborative research and thought leadership. With each project, we strive to enhance quality of life and empower each client to achieve their goals, creating meaningful and lasting impact for the good of all.
Our firm embraces the WELL HealthSafety Rating for all of our offices — an international distinction that demonstrates commitment to health and wellness and covers both space hygiene and mental health policies for all staff.
We have five WELL Accredited Professionals — including the first WELL Accredited Professional in SC, with the expertise to turn spaces into places people can thrive.
Our Healthcare Practice Area helps providers serve our growing population and optimize valuable facility assets.
Our team has designed a wide range of healthcare solutions that respond to community needs, maximize the revenue generation capacity of the facility, dovetail with operational processes, and most of all, function as healing environments that inspire hope.
Through our understanding of financial and business drivers, our knowledge of healthcare trends over time, our commitment to research and ongoing professional development, and our broad exposure from working with a diverse healthcare clientele, we bring examples, options, and rationale to support design recommendations.
From new hospitals to multi-phased renovations, vertical expansions, medical office building tenant upfits, and equipment replacements, our dedicated healthcare experts offer specialized technical knowledge in tandem with a deep understanding of local regulatory conditions.
I wanted to share my appreciation for your hard work specific to the planning, programming, and design of the Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. I am immensely satisfied with both the quality of design and the experience working with the MPS design team. We believe that your deliberative planning process has helped ensure this project go smoothly. I appreciate your firm’s personal involvement and thank you for your commitment and accessibility.
56 LEED Certified Projects
LEED, Green Globes, FitWel + WELL Accredited Professionals
8 Green Globes
Certified Projects
Our firm is a proud signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment, an actionable climate strategy that outlines standards and goals for reaching net zero emissions in the built environment by 2030. We are dedicated to supporting the need for more consistent and rigorous building performance metrics and tracking, and to actively pursuing solutions that reduce the negative impact that buildings can have on the environment. Our team is well-versed in a wide variety of environmental ratings systems, including the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program, Green Globes, Energy Star, and WELL Certification.
Making sustainable design choices improves quality of life and takes steps toward environmental stewardship. We encourage an integrated approach to sustainability that strives to meet budget goals for both upfront expenses as well as operational costs. MPS has developed a Design Excellence process, based on the AIA framework for Design Excellence, to guide owner goals and design strategies, which could lead to:
» Right-sized buildings with efficient floor plans, materials, and MEP systems that reduce energy, saving operational and maintenance costs
» Building reuse and use of recycled and responsibility sourced materials that reduce waste, carbon emissions, and depletion of natural resources
» Selecting products that minimize the use of off-gassing or materials which can be harmful to human health
Our healthcare design team has worked with more than 20 health systems across the Southeast, some for more than thirty years, and is committed to providing long-term value in our client relationships.
Recognized for our collaborative approach, our clients know us as good listeners who translate their ideas, carry out their vision, and advocate for their needs.
Organizations need to optimize their facility assets for growth, transformation, and operational efficiency to succeed in today’s market.
McMillan Pazdan Smith’s in-house Advisors create customized data-driven facility plans that guide your transformation over time and unite your stakeholders around shared priorities.
You gain a clear path forward with our diverse team of strategists, analysts, financial consultants, clinical partners, planners, architects, designers, and LEAN / process improvement specialists. Our multidisciplinary experts provide an objective approach and comprehensive solutions.
Here are some of the steps that our Advisors take to deliver client-specific, data-driven solutions.
Our Advisors help companies optimize facilities and create their unique plan by:
Deferring Costs Producing More Revenue Generating Space
Right-Sizing Capital Expenses
Aligning Facilities with Capital Expenses
Better Utilization and Distribution of Space
Aligning Space Needs with Staffing Forecasts
The Advisors helped save the client over $6.3 M by right sizing their facility to the market demand and operations.
Tsali Care’s leadership originally engaged McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) in 2019 to complete a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) Master Plan. After a program option was selected, MPS then began work on the Tsali Care replacement design. As discussions with key community stakeholders evolved it soon became clear that the MPS Advisory Service team should be brought in to re-assess the market and financial plan moving forward.
A market assessment was performed that evaluated national and local trends, determined the supply and demand of long-term care beds in the service area, and finally assessed the ‘gap’ or need for additional beds. A financial feasibility study was an additional tool developed to help the client synthesize a variety of financial and operational information to determine the return on investment. In terms of the site selection process which analyzed one on top of the mountain and one lower near the base, the financial assessment helped from a cost perspective to aid in decision making as well as key project stakeholders from civil design and construction to distill the major pros and cons/constraints for each option.
As a result of the advisors work, Tsali Care leadership selected a site and bed option and gave the approval to move forward with the design phase. The benefit of this study was to evaluate multiple variables that inform decision making for stakeholder alignment and long-term success. Completing this level of due diligence before design helps minimize the risk for project holds in later stages of project development.
LOW-SITE OPTION
Allowed all 3 bed options to yield favorable operating cash results
HIGH-SITE OPTION
2 out of 3 bed options still yielded positive operating cash results (although less favorable)
Advisors conducted a market assessment and financial feasibility study for this replacement long term care facility in a mountain setting which resulted in fewer beds needed, an understanding of return on investment based on patient volumes, and a site selection that represented a savings of $28M.
McMillan Pazdan Smith’s approach to acute healthcare design is comprehensive and forward-thinking, focusing on improving outcomes, reducing costs, and enhancing the patient experience. We offer:
• an emphasis on extensive research and data to provide the confidence that design decisions are grounded in evidence and best practices;
• a keen understanding of the impact of design on the experiences of patients, loved ones, and caregivers;
• the ability to tailor solutions, based on our wide range of knowledge and expertise, to meet the unique needs of different facilities and patient populations;
• an emphasis on preparedness and adaptability so that healthcare facilities can respond effectively to evolving healthcare landscapes and emerging threats.
McMillan Pazdan Smith is committed to designing innovative and resilient acute healthcare environments that prioritize superior patient care and staff well-being.
CaroMont Medical Center - Belmont, New Hospital Campus | CaroMont Health
Watauga Medical Center - Master Plan, Expansion, New CEP | UNC Health - Appalachian
Self Regional Medical Center - Childbirth Center / Surgery Center | Self Regional Healthcare
St. Francis Downtown, Tower Reclad + Interior Renovations | Bon Secours Mercy Health
Children’s Hospital of Georgia - Expansion Study | Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia
Forsyth Medical Center - Med/Surg Inpatient Renovations | Novant Health
Designing healthcare spaces for rural settings outside of urban areas requires a unique approach due to distinct challenges and priorities they face. Some key considerations and design strategies tailored for rural healthcare settings include:
• Flexibility for Multi-Specialty Care,
• Integration of Telemedicine,
• Staff Recruitment and Retention, and
• Identity and Community Relations.
McMillan Pazdan Smith provides custom design solutions to help rural facilities meet community healthcare needs and create a supportive environment for both patients and providers.
Piedmont Free-Standing Emergency Department + Medical Office Building | AnMed Health
Designing an emergency department with careful consideration of various, unique factors can significantly enhance the experience for patients and caregivers alike. Key elements include:
• efficient flows for patients, providers, medication, supplies, information, equipment, and visitors,
• optimized space utilization,
• improving patient outcomes,
• safety and security, and
• patient comfort and privacy.
By taking a holistic approach to emergency department design, environments can be created that prioritize patient-centered care, optimize operational efficiency, and ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals within the ED setting.
Oconee Memorial Hospital - Emergency Department
Self Regional Medical Center - Emergency Department Phased Renovation | Self Regional
The shift to outpatient care is transforming healthcare, with facility location playing a key role. Medical office buildings (MOBs) offer benefits like cost savings, accessibility, and patient convenience. However, successful planning and design require understanding regulatory requirements, creating adaptable clinical spaces that require various space needs (i.e., clinics, procedure suites, equipment), and ensuring clear communication. Market demand, patient demographics, and technology also impact MOB planning and design. McMillan Pazdan Smith offers expertise in optimizing outpatient facilities for effective, efficient, high-quality care.
CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Belmont Medical Pavilion | CaroMont Health
Point Hope Medical Pavilion | The Keith Corp for MUSC Physicians
Our design team focuses on creating positive, healing environments — especially for cancer treatment centers. To create the desired healing space, we blend hospitality with healthcare design through the expertise of both practices within our firm.
The Latin root word “hospes” means both guest and host, reflecting the dual role of hospitals and hospitality. As healthcare evolves with telemedicine and ever-changing patient expectations, hospital leaders are exploring new care models. We prioritize a patient-first approach, incorporating family support areas, access to nature, calming spa-like interiors, natural light, and advanced technology. Our experience includes designing imaging spaces with linear accelerators ( LINCAC ), MRIs, CT simulators, bone density scans, ultrasounds, and mammograms.
St. Francis Eastside, Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health | Bon Secours Mercy Health
Mental health in America has become an issue of growing public concern. Healthcare organizations are charged with accommodating this increasing need in both facility and workforce resources. We proactively design Behavioral Health facilities that help you meet internal and external demands with three primary goals in mind: Safety, Dignity, and Budget. Our team is experienced and knowledgeable with designing for evolving models of care. EmPath is a new model for behavioral health that uses a supportive environment to support de-escalation. Our team is currently working on multiple EmPath unit projects that will ultimately help the patient get the right follow-up help with a treatment program instead of a traditional behavioral health environment with locked doors.
A consolidated service center (CSC) is a centralized facility that provides services to multiple care facilities within a healthcare provider system. When designing a CSC, our team carefully considers the scale for both current and future needs as well as the ability to adapt to changes in functionality of the space.
CSC’s are a great way for healthcare providers to gain cost savings, operational efficiency, manage standardization of supplies and service levels, and repurpose valuable square footage within their existing facilities.
A CSC can have many uses including the centralization of inventory management, procurement, distribution, and logistics. The CSC can also centralize pharmacy operations, including drug procurement, preparation, management, storage, and dispensing.
Created for healthcare consumers, providers, and advocates — our podcast series is hosted by Minta Ferguson, Director of Planning at McMillan Pazdan Smith. Health and wellness is a dynamic topic, sensitive to a vast array of factors from a local to an international scale. The healthcare industry is at the forefront of everyday life and, hopefully, on the cusp of a renaissance. Join us to explore ideas shaping healthcare. Subscribe on our website, or listen from your favorite podcast app: www.mcmillanpazdansmith.com/podcasts/healthcare.
we’re right in your backyard with 8 offices across the Southeast, always nearby + readily available
embedded in our communities, working with local developers and regulatory agencies
offering experience breadth + depth with a Lean-Led Design focus, from small medical to complex, specialty solutions
providing boots-on-the-ground with immediate on-site communication from our in-house CA team
guided decision making with data analysis + integrated planning with evidencebased design to keep you competitive
GC RELATIONSHIPS
operating for 70+ years as a communitybased firm, we hold strong relationships with a variety of contractors
www.mcmillanpazdansmith.com