University Heart Cardiovascular Center

The state’s only academic health science institution, The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is a regional leader in education and research. To expand their vision, and further develop their cardiovascular program, UMMC sought to consolidate and expand their cardio labs, recovery suites, and administrative areas. After working with a team of doctors and administrators to complete the transitional master plan for UMMC in 2010, the CDFL team was chosen to design the renovation and provide architecture and engineering services for the University Heart Cardiovascular Center.

The new University Heart design is organized into five areas: facility arrival and amenities located in the main entrance, a prep and recovery area, invasive services, non-invasive services, and administrative areas. University Heart holds a dedicated cardiac prep and recovery space and five procedural labs – three dedicated to cardiac catheterization, two that are used for electrophysiology, and one mixed-use lab shelled for future use. As a result of the renovation portion of the project being designated as a Mississippi Landmark by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the existing portion of the building’s façade remained unchanged. The newly constructed portion of the building was designed to blend seamlessly into the established language of the large medical campus.

Patients are greeted by a canopied drop-off entrance that is functional and reflective of the mid-century modern aesthetic of the original 1955 hospital building. The lobby is a two-story space surrounded by large portions of exterior glazing, which allows plenty of outside views and natural daylight. The landscaped exterior, complete with outdoor seating, serves as an outdoor waiting room. In addition to cutting edge patient heart care, the facility also provides 17 private recovery rooms, all of which are outfitted with the amenities of a typical hospital room.

Photography by Jeffrey Jacobs