Photo: OhioHealth Doctors Hospital chose to renovate its Specialty Care Services rather than build new; demonstrating a deep commitment to the surrounding community, which faces both socioeconomic challenges and rising demand for specialty care.
By Timothy Fishking, FAIA, NCARB
As healthcare systems evolve, driven by technology, regulatory shifts, and a deeper understanding of community health, it’s critical that the built environment keeps pace. Renovating existing facilities can be a strategic, cost-effective solution when upgrades are needed. Working with architects and designers from the outset helps providers shape a path forward that balances infrastructure demands, patient needs and long-term goals.
When done right, renovation offers significant advantages: shorter timelines, lower environmental impact, and greater cost control. Its success, however, hinges on the condition of the existing structure and how well it supports new programming. Early collaboration with design teams brings valuable insights into the process; helping to uncover opportunities, anticipate challenges, and create functional, future-ready spaces.
Evaluating Existing Facilities and Maintaining Operations
Determining whether a building is a strong renovation candidate starts with assessing the age, infrastructure, layout and overall capacity of the facility. These elements influence scope, timeline, and budget and ultimately dictate whether renovation or replacement is the better option.
Equally important is ensuring uninterrupted care during construction. As the design partner, Moody Nolan works closely with facility and clinical teams to understand operational priorities, determine which areas must remain active, and develop a phasing strategy that minimizes disruption. Phased construction, infection control planning and workflow coordination are essential to keeping care delivery on track throughout the renovation process.
OhioHealth Doctors Hospital
Photo Credit (all): Courtesy of Moody Nolan
Located in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital chose to renovate its Specialty Care Services rather than build new; demonstrating a deep commitment to the surrounding community, which faces both socioeconomic challenges and rising demand for specialty care. The goal was clear: improve access for patients, increase efficiency for staff, and modernize the facility in a way that reflects OhioHealth’s long-term vision for care delivery.
Moody Nolan led the redesign, reorganizing the facility’s floor plates to align with clinical workflows and simplify navigation. Specialty clinics were arranged in functional zones with intentional porosity between them, improving flow and creating a more flexible, efficient care environment. The project was also shaped by its timing, and it was planned during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, adaptability became central to design. Features like movable walls, mobile supply carts and shared staff hubs allow for dynamic use of space.
The design closely follows OhioHealth’s planning standards, including uniform size of typical exam rooms, treatment rooms, and more, all fitted according to different specialty groups throughout the three stories of the facility. These modules allowed the team to produce a layout that accommodates both traditional construction and modular prefabricated wall systems, further enhancing the project’s flexible capabilities.
To minimize disruption to ongoing care, the renovation was completed in carefully planned phases, allowing essential services to remain operational throughout the project. By maintaining access and continuity of care during construction, the team ensured the community continued to rely on the facility without interruption.
Ultimately, the renovated Specialty Care Services building reinforces OhioHealth’s role as a trusted community resource. The updated space fosters a sense of dignity and comfort for patients, families, and staff, building confidence in a healthcare environment designed to meet the needs of a socioeconomically diverse population both now and in the future.
Grady Health System’s Ponce de Leon Center
Grady Health System’s Ponce de Leon Center in Atlanta is a powerful example of how strategic renovation can transform a legacy facility into a modern, patient-centered environment. Originally constructed in the 1960s as an administrative building for a religious organization, the structure was acquired and adapted by Grady in the mid-1980s to house its growing HIV/AIDS treatment program. The recent renovation marked the first comprehensive reimagining of the space.
The 90,000-square-foot facility now houses clinics, diagnostic and treatment spaces, including infusion, imaging, clinical and administrative support, patient and family legal and mental counseling, a testing lab, pharmacy and dentistry. A central goal of the renovation was to improve patient experience and promote collaboration between departments. Consolidating fragmented services and improving adjacencies created a more intuitive, efficient care delivery model that strengthens interdisciplinary connections and reduces patient travel distances.
One of the most critical components of the project was maintaining ongoing operations. The renovation was completed in carefully planned phases, allowing clinical services and administrative functions to remain active throughout construction. Key infrastructure updates included the replacement of elevators, which were upgraded to support the building’s new clinical utilization and patient traffic needs.
While the original floorplates were designed for administrative use, the Moody Nolan team reimagined them to support modern healthcare delivery. This required full spatial reconfiguration, reorganizing departments, introducing natural light, reorienting entrances, and clearly defining clinical zones to improve patient flow and operational efficiency.
Ultimately, the renovation reflects a deep understanding of Grady’s mission and the community it serves. For patients managing chronic conditions, who may still face stigma, it was critical to maintain the continuity, familiarity, and dignity for the patient care experience. By maintaining operations throughout the renovation and ensuring the environment remained welcoming and respectful, the design team helped preserve a sense of safety and trust for patients and staff alike. The result is a thoughtfully reimagined facility that honors its legacy while supporting high-performing, patient-centered care into the future.
Building for What’s Now and What’s Next
As healthcare systems face rising construction costs, shifting care models, and unpredictable economic conditions, renovation offers a powerful, strategic response. It allows institutions to reinvest in their existing infrastructure, adapt spaces to meet current needs and create environments that remain flexible for the future. Moody Nolan approaches each renovation with a long-term lens which incorporates modular planning, adaptable layouts and scalable infrastructure that can evolve. When done thoughtfully, renovation is a forward-looking solution that supports operational resilience, preserves community presence and positions healthcare organizations to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.
Timothy Fishking, FAIA, NCARB, is a partner and the Healthcare Practice leader at Moody Nolan.