Clinical Research Center
National Institutes of Health

Flexible lab space, adaptable clinical space: an interstitial solution.

The 1.3 million square foot Mark O. Hatfield complex is the largest hospital in the U.S. devoted entirely to clinical research. Research and patient care areas utilize interstitial design to promote the NIH's "bench-to-bedside" approach to patient care, maintaining close proximity between scientific investigators and clinicians, rapidly translating scientific observations and laboratory discoveries into new approach for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Interstitial spaces also accommodate the function-flexible modification of labs and the conversion of clinical spaces into new labs as they become necessary, without disrupting patients or clinical investigators. As advisor and contributor to the NIH Design Policy and Guidelines, AEI evaluated air distribution alternatives and drafted the patient care ventilation standards that remain the benchmarks for healthcare design.

From the client:

“During the course of the last five years, Affiliated Engineers has provided the NIH exceptional service for a range of projects including the new 1.1 million gsf Clinical Research Center, the renovation of Building 37, and in planning for the 2.5 million gsf renovation of Building 10.

Your planning and conceptual design skills are second to none. For the Clinical Research Center and for Building 10, your lead engineers have developed concepts that will provide the NIH with the flexibility and the adaptability its scientists need to achieve their goals, while meeting our design guidelines for easily operable and maintainable buildings.

Your firm has been responsive to our needs. You have been readily available to help us throughout all project phases from planning through construction and commissioning. You have consistently met our schedule requirements.

Your designs have met the budget estimates that were initially identified in the planning phase of each project.”

George B. Williams, P.E.
Assistant Director (retired)
Design, Construction and Alteration Branch
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health

Services:

Mechanical, Electrical, Piping/Plumbing, Architectural Lighting Design, Cost Estimating, Commissioning

Size:

1,300,000 sf

Location:

Bethesda, MD

Architect:

Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP