Project Description
The new Queen Anne’s County Medical Park is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The first phase is a freestanding emergency center initially 16,500 sf with a planned expansion of 6,800 sf. This will be followed by two 3-story, 75,000 sf medical office buildings.
This Freestanding Emergency Center was the first building of this type built in Maryland. The program includes: 12 exam rooms; 1 resuscitation room; a CT room; a Rad Room and a Lab with associated support spaces. The look and feel of the building was inspired by other facilities of Shore Health, and the surrounding local context buildings.
Achieving planning approval for the new development in a Critical Area of the Chesapeake Bay was a major challenge as well as building department approval. At the time of construction this building type was not recognized by the International building code.
HCM worked with Shore Health and UMMS on planning department approval. The site, like all work on the shore, required specific attention related to critical areas permitting and other related regulations. We also met with the local jurisdiction and obtained code exceptions based on this new building type. These exceptions are now adopted in the current Building Code. The permitting was successfully completed without impact to the project schedule.
Several sustainable strategies were incorporated into the design including: porous pavement; SWM with localized Bio Swales; interior day lighting in several of the exam rooms; recycled materials; energy efficient lighting/mechanical system; and materials to enhance interior air quality.