{"id":868507,"date":"2025-07-08T11:21:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T15:21:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/?p=868507"},"modified":"2025-07-30T11:48:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T15:48:54","slug":"from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/","title":{"rendered":"From Babies to Ballers: Medical Center Caters to All"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Open
Photography: Tom Harris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center’s new expansion near Cleveland, Ohio, is establishing itself as a game-changer in regional healthcare. Its $236 million expansion project meets the community’s diverse needs by offering state-of-the-art facilities and a welcoming environment that looks like a cross between a gleaming pro sports stadium and a high-end hotel.<\/p>\n

The project allowed UH Ahuja Medical Center to expand its campus footprint by up to 90% and introduce comprehensive care programs while significantly increasing access to inpatient and outpatient services. Designed by global architecture and design firm HKS, the expansion includes a new pavilion and the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute \u2013 a three-story field house for advanced sports rehab and clinical services. The center supports various populations and specialties, and the new expansion provides unique care for each group. HKS worked closely with Steelcase dealer Ohio Desk to bring the project to life.<\/p>\n

As the sports medicine provider for the NFL\u2019s Cleveland Browns, it\u2019s no accident that the facility feels like a world-class training hub. With its artificial grass interiors and track-like halls, the facility can appeal to those who are statistically less likely to be proactive about their healthcare \u2013 men. But it goes far beyond, ensuring everyone\u2014from men and moms to infants and elite athletes\u2014feels at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to create spaces that feel different to each person \u2013 but always welcoming, inclusive and customized\u201d <\/p>Percival Kane, Jr.MHA, Chief Operating Officer of UH Ahuja Medical Center.<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n

\"Health
Connecting the main hospital to the new Pavilion, the main concourse features lounge seating, plenty of natural lighting, and scenic views of the entry driveway gardens. Nature-inspired graphics offer positive distractions to patients waiting and act as landmarks for wayfinding. Pictured is the Coalesse Circa Table. Design: HKS Photography: Tom Harris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Breaking down barriers in men’s healthcare<\/h2>\n

One of the standout features of the new expansion is the UH Cutler Center for Men. This facility is designed to address men’s reluctance to seek healthcare. The center offers a range of amenities that make it feel more like a man cave than a medical facility, including a pool table, large-screen TVs, and a skybox lounge. “It’s all really cool,” Kane says. “We’ve gotten so much great feedback from it.”<\/p>\n

\"space
Who wouldn\u2019t want a pool table in their waiting room? The men\u2019s health waiting area provides a range of activities and a dynamic environment to ease the usual discomfort of clinical visits. Pictured are the BluDot Pi Table and Orangebox Away from the Desk. Design: HKS Photography: Tom Harris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The goal is to make men feel more comfortable and welcome in healthcare. “This is all about helping people navigate their care,” Kane explains. “The men’s healthcare model cascades throughout our health system.”<\/p>\n

Meeting everyone\u2019s needs<\/h2>\n

The expansion of UH Ahuja Medical Center is not just about aesthetics; it’s about meeting the community’s broad spectrum of health needs. The facility includes the UH Breast Center and the Steve and Loree Potash Women & Newborn Center, which houses the Danielle and Michael Weiner Maternity Suite and the Richard Horvitz and Erica Hartman-Horvitz Special Care Nursery. The Potash Center offers comprehensive maternal-fetal health services, labor and delivery. UH MacDonald Women\u2019s Hospital, an extension of UH Cleveland Medical Center, operates the maternity and newborn services at UH Ahuja Medical Center. “Nothing that we have here is an accident,” says Kane.<\/p>\n

For example, the new level 2 special care nursery design features single rooms with windows, creating a serene and spacious environment for families during a sensitive time. “It feels, for lack of a better term, like a nice hotel environment,” Kane notes. \u201cRooms are exceptionally spacious, and giving families time and space is important.”<\/p>\n

\"Hospital
Designed with the colors of the rainbow, the level 2 special care nursery corridor individualizes each parent\u2019s experience through unique accent colors for each pair of rooms. Biophilic elements \u2013 including diffused lighting, nature-inspired graphics, ample natural light and organic shapes \u2013 aid healing. Pictured is the Steelcase Series 2 Chair.<\/span>
Design: HKS
Photography: Tom Harris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The level 2 special care nursery isn’t the only area designed with comfort in mind. The new labor and delivery unit rooms include pull-out beds for family members, desks for working parents, comfortable seating and plenty of power for devices. This approach aims to make the hospital experience less daunting and more accommodating for families.<\/p>\n

\"Healthcare
Spacious labor delivery rooms offer a relaxing environment for patients and families. They feature large windows, soothing colors, biophilic materials, and calming artwork and graphics. Rooms are equipped with labor tubs for patients seeking pain management and stress relief. Pictured are the Steelcase Regard Lounge and the Coalesse Await Table. Design: HKS Photography: Tom Harris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thoughtful design<\/h2>\n

The overall design of UH Ahuja Medical Center’s new facilities create a healing and nurturing environment. “The spaces help people feel more relaxed here,” says Kane.<\/p>\n\"\"

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOpen image tooltip<\/b><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

An open cafe in the lobby area offers patients a hospitality experience. Coalesse Lox Chairs, Regard Lounge, and Coalsse Enea Lottus Tables are Pictured.
\nDesign: HKS
\nPhotography: Tom Harris <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOpen image tooltip<\/b><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Emergency Department waiting area, with its high ceiling and simple, clutter-free design, features a dedicated pediatric zone featuring child-friendly graphics.
\nDesign: HKS
\nPhotography: Tom Harris <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n

Diana Araoz-Fraser, a Studio Design Leader at HKS who helped lead the UH Ahuja project, highlighted the complexities of accomplishing the hospital\u2019s mission through design. \u201cUH Ahuja has a \u2018community of care\u2019 philosophy, which enhances the wellbeing of patients and staff. We were very mindful of that in our design,\u201d Araoz-Fraser says. \u201cBy integrating ample natural light and materials, we bring the outside in, harmonizing with our natural surroundings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kane credits HKS with using colors, textures, and lighting to create the feeling that exists within the space.<\/p>\n

“Subtle details matter. Being in the space, moments matter if you are with a loved one. It’s very intimate, and that intimacy translates into feeling appreciated.” <\/p>Percival Kane, Jr., MHA COO, UH Ahuja Medical Center <\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n

“Having the aesthetic design, the furniture applications the way they are, that matters,” he says. “I hear from patients and loved ones all the time that it just feels different, and that feeling translates to experience.”<\/p>\n

Explore more of our research and solutions at SteelcaseHealth.com<\/a> or get a copy of our latest lookbook for healthcare.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From newborns to NFL athletes, UH Ahuja Medical Center\u2019s innovative design redefines healthcare by creating personalized, welcoming spaces for every stage of life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60004,"featured_media":868508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"topic":[1356],"class_list":["post-868507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-healthcare"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWelcoming Hospital Design at UH Ahuja Medical Center | Steelcase<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"See how Steelcase products were used to create welcoming waiting rooms, patient rooms, and more as part of an expansion project at UH Ahuja Medical Center.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Welcoming Hospital Design at UH Ahuja Medical Center | Steelcase\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"See how Steelcase products were used to create welcoming waiting rooms, patient rooms, and more as part of an expansion project at UH Ahuja Medical Center.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Steelcase\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-08T15:21:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-30T15:48:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_600,w_1200\/v1751895225\/25-0260609.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mariangela Guzman\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mariangela Guzman\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Welcoming Hospital Design at UH Ahuja Medical Center | Steelcase","description":"See how Steelcase products were used to create welcoming waiting rooms, patient rooms, and more as part of an expansion project at UH Ahuja Medical Center.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Welcoming Hospital Design at UH Ahuja Medical Center | Steelcase","og_description":"See how Steelcase products were used to create welcoming waiting rooms, patient rooms, and more as part of an expansion project at UH Ahuja Medical Center.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/","og_site_name":"Steelcase","article_published_time":"2025-07-08T15:21:24+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-07-30T15:48:54+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_600,w_1200\/v1751895225\/25-0260609.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Mariangela Guzman","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mariangela Guzman","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/"},"author":{"name":"Mariangela Guzman","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#\/schema\/person\/5a7b5c3d4a9813b96b76b0cb9a539e3d"},"headline":"From Babies to Ballers: Medical Center Caters to All","datePublished":"2025-07-08T15:21:24+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-30T15:48:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/"},"wordCount":1056,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1751895225\/25-0260609.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/","url":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/","name":"Welcoming Hospital Design at UH Ahuja Medical Center | Steelcase","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1751895225\/25-0260609.jpg","datePublished":"2025-07-08T15:21:24+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-30T15:48:54+00:00","description":"See how Steelcase products were used to create welcoming waiting rooms, patient rooms, and more as part of an expansion project at UH Ahuja Medical Center.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1751895225\/25-0260609.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1751895225\/25-0260609.jpg","width":2560,"height":1518,"caption":"Open space with big window"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/healthcare\/from-babies-to-ballers-medical-center-caters-to-all\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"From Babies to Ballers: Medical Center Caters to All"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/","name":"Steelcase","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#organization","name":"Steelcase","url":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1531399627\/sc_core_424_sm-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1531399627\/sc_core_424_sm-1.jpg","width":331,"height":87,"caption":"Steelcase"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#\/schema\/person\/5a7b5c3d4a9813b96b76b0cb9a539e3d","name":"Mariangela Guzman","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/31050a1f521b4a5646190456b065a7f5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/31050a1f521b4a5646190456b065a7f5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Mariangela Guzman"},"url":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/author\/mguzman2steelcase-com\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/posts\/868507"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/users\/60004"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=868507"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/posts\/868507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":868537,"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/posts\/868507\/revisions\/868537"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/media\/868508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=868507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/restapi\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=868507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}