Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawk
Hmm, good question! St. Luke's more then likely will add onto the basement. But I have no clue if they have any need for additional Operating rooms. It makes sense that they would though. Since the time that they built the main tower back in the 90's Boise's population has increase by a lot. who knows, maybe they'll add a couple new operating rooms specifically for heart and vascular surgeries with technologically updated semi-permanent equipment.
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St Luke's reasoning for wanting to close off Jefferson Street and expand to the north is to be able to have one massive floorplate to expand the ER and surgical suites. They theorize that an ER is more efficient if it and all related departments are on one floor, thus the need to spread out instead of up.
From page 19 of their Master Plan:
"New and existing primary hospital functions like surgery, emergency department, and associated support functions connect to create a horizontally integrated care model only if Jefferson Street is closed. This approach is most efficient for healthcare delivery and provides the best opportunity for successful healthcare outcomes."
Okay, so why not build the new tower to the south over the existing parking structure, and close off the rest of Bannock Street to allow expansion of the ER? Here are some arguments as to why they would rather go with the "North Solution" instead of the "South Solution" (from page 18 of their Master Plan)
http://www.stlukesonline.org/campusp...erPlan_low.pdf:
• With some exceptions, St. Luke’s does not currently own the property required to accommodate the South Solution.
• Development to the east across Avenue B straddles Zoning Districts H-S and R-3, and a Minor Arterial. Rezoning to allow the new use involves risk and decreases possibility of success.
• Internal connectivity and circulation becomes inefficient and problematic between the medical office building (MOB) and the expansion.
• Bannock Street MOB drop-off and garage access would require closure of Bannock Street to through traffic.
• Additional access points would be necessary on Avenue C, increasing congestion deeper into the East End.• Insufficient floor area for the anticipated building program would cause the height of the proposed expansion to increase.
• Expansion to the south causes redevelopment of the entire front of the existing hospital. Patient and visitor access to front door is problematic.
• Access to the Emergency Department becomes challenging.
• Parking is potentially eliminated at the main hospital entrance. All parking would be located across Avenue B from the main hospital.
• All new traffic volume is concentrated at Warm Springs/Avenue B/Main/Idaho Street intersection, further congesting an already congested area.
• Street level connectivity between new construction and existing presents safety challenges to pedestrians crossing Avenue B.
They've also mentioned that traffic studies have shown that very little "through" traffic uses the section of Jefferson Street in question. So they see no reason not to close it.
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