Health care facilities are complex and, in many ways, represent some of the biggest challenges for designers. Because of their occupancy nature, health care facilities must support public health and represent superior levels of performance and safety, while also providing an attractive, welcoming environment. The high traffic typical in these facilities requires a great degree of durability, cleanability and ease of maintenance.

Privacy, ease of use, accessibility sustainability and hygiene must be not only present, but seen and understood by those in the building. Restroom quality makes a major impression on patients and staff. In a competitive health care marketplace, institutional impressions matter. This presentation will look at the importance of good, holistic and inclusive public restrooms, patient bathrooms and locker rooms for health care facilities and provide important tips and considerations for effective design.

Photo courtesy of ASI

Project: Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Architect: Ewing Cole