April 24, 2020

Meritus Health System’s Regional Infectious Containment Unit under construction
and on schedule to complete in 120 days

HAGERSTOWN, MD – Matthei & Colin Associates has completed planning and design for a 20 Bed, 12,500 SF Regional Infectious Containment Unit (RICUnit) addition on the campus of Meritus Health in Hagerstown, MD.  Building cost is estimated between $12 – $13M.  The unit is designed as a negative pressure environment, isolating the entire department and capable of treating patients infected with disease such as COVID-19.  This unique design/build delivery process is scheduled around a 120 day delivery, allowing the first patients to be admitted on July 31, 2020.  The addition is designed to function as a Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) during non-pandemic crisis.  The State Of Maryland granted an emergency Certificate of Need (CON) to help expedite the project.  

Conceptual planning and design began on March 22, 2020 with site work starting 8 days later.  Project coordination is supported by daily video conferences including all design team members, Owner representatives, trade partners and local building officials.

M&CA provided all planning, architectural, and interior design services.

For more than a century, Meritus Health has been providing high-quality and compassionate health care to residents in western Maryland, southern Pennsylvania and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Meritus Medical Center, the health system’s flagship facility, is a Magnet® Recognized and Joint Commission accredited 256-bed community and teaching hospital that serves as the clinical training site for western Maryland’s only family medicine residency program. Originally named Washington County Hospital, the hospital relocated in 2010 and is known for cancer care, inpatient rehabilitation, cardiac care, a Level III trauma center and emergency department, a Level II special care nursery and women’s and children services. Meritus Medical Group, a network of 20 medical practices with more than 100 providers, also provides urgent care and the medical care of area nursing home residents.

Since 1974, Matthei & Colin Associates, LLC (M&CA) has specialized in the planning and design of health care environments. Through the passion of our creative effort, we have emerged today as one of the nation’s few firms exclusively dedicated to health care architecture. We are committed to collaborating with our clients by understanding the challenges and recognizing the opportunities.  Our singular focus on designing and creating health care environments and our productive client partnerships result in highly individualized planning recommendations to address the unique requirements of each project. Through a proven process of listening, asking, and creating, we translate dialogue into design.

For more information contact:

Randall R. Bacidore, AIA, Principal
Matthei & Colin Associates, LLC
[email protected]

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