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New and renovated facilities always seem to produce armchair architects.
Think about all the times you've gone into an updated workplace and heard someone say, "They should have asked me how to design this place." People think the electrical outlet should have been here, the desks should have been there and the windows should have been bigger.
That common scenario may be nearly impossible with Tampa General Hospital's new $120-million expansion plan. That's because the hospital has produced mockup patient and procedure rooms in a warehouse behind its HealthPark on North 30th Street.
I'm not talking about scale models. These are real-life rooms that are the same size and design of the rooms that will be in the five-story expansion. Not only do they give architects a better sense of design, but doctors, nurses and other staff get a real vision instead of looking at blueprints.
The mock-ups "are standard now in projects with very high expectations," said architect Jim Kolb, healthcare design principal for Gresham, Smith and Partners. "It's a much better tool than drawings because it gives the people who are going to use the facility a much better understanding."
Dozens of staff members have already evaluated the rooms over the last four months and made recommendations. They haven't just gone through on tours, but have actually enacted role playing scenarios with patients on gurneys to get a real sense of whether the room works.
In response, the mockup rooms already have been rebuilt and the current rooms reflect the changes. Building the mockup rooms cost between $200,000 and $300,000, but the hospital already has saved nearly $1-million in change-orders, said Ron Hytoff, TGH's president and CEO.
That's money well spent, and it makes me wonder why the approach isn't used more often.
THE MOCKUP ROOMS were opened to the media and special guests Wednesday during a capital campaign kickoff for Tampa General Hospital Foundation, which hopes to raise $10-million for the project.
The campaign already has acquired more than $6-million through pledges from employees and board members for the hospital and the foundation. Still, keynote speaker Don Wallace said because Tampa General is one of the community's jewels, he's willing to solicit friends and help the foundation surpass its $10-million goal.
"And I'm a peddler. I don't hear "no' very well," said Wallace, philanthropist and former Lazy Days RV owner.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2005 and the expansion will double the size of the emergency and trauma center, expand vascular services, and increase space for intensive care and labor and delivery.
IF THE LIGHTNING loses to Calgary tonight, it's possible an entire office staff will be clad in Flames jerseys Friday. In Tampa.
It's true. Cardel Master Builder has offices in Tampa and Calgary, so the staff has made a little wager on the Stanley Cup finals. Losers have to wear the opposing team's jerseys after each loss.
"Lose the series, and you wear the winning team's jersey for a week," said Damon Ockey, Cardel's vice-president of marketing.
Both offices also have pledged $1,000 to charity for each goal their respective teams score. At the end of the series, the office in the losing city will donate $5,000 to the charity of the winning city's choice.
AND THE TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER also is caught up in Lightning fever, engaged in a bet with its Calgary counterpart. If the Lightning wins, the Epcor Centre's CEO, Colin Jackson, will have to wear a Lightning jersey when he introduces an event in Calgary. If Calgary gets a lucky win, TBPAC president Judith Lisi has to wear a Flames jersey before an event.
"I like to wear red," Lisi said. "But I don't expect to be wearing a red jersey for my stage announcements."
Maybe I should make a bet with the hack columnist in Calgary.
That's all I'm saying.
- Ernest Hooper can be reached at 813 226-3406 or Hooper@sptimes.com