Redesigning the Hospital’s Front Door
When RLF was awarded the Orlando Health Digestive Health Institute (DHI) project, the team couldn’t have anticipated just how much it would challenge their determination, resilience, and ingenuity. This was not simply an addition to the Orlando Health campus, but rather a complete reimagining of the hospital’s front door. Located at the primary entrance of Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), this flagship project was marked by significant design and construction complexities from the outset.
First and foremost, the site was highly constrained, nestled between two active 24/7 facilities – the existing Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) and the Cancer Center. To complicate matters further, the new building had to be constructed directly over vital infrastructure supporting the entire hospital, all while keeping the main service drive open and operational. Furthermore, precise connections to the ASC were required to support future expansion. It was like fitting a custom-shaped LEGO piece into an extremely tight space, without disrupting anything around it. Yet, for RLF, the project offered a rare opportunity to “complete the circle” by blending the architectural language of the new DHI with the established aesthetic of the adjacent bed tower.
To address the infrastructure challenges, RLF collaborated closely with contractor Robins + Morton, structural engineer Walter P. Moore, and program manager Jacobs through a series of intensive engineering coordination meetings. Together, they devised a bold solution: a carefully designed fully serviceable underground utility tunnel that would reroute essential systems without disrupting hospital operations. More than 15 feet of earth was excavated to construct a 5-by-7-foot tunnel, reinforced with over 250,000 pounds of rebar. During this process, temporary systems were installed to suspend critical utilities mid-air while concrete forms were set and slabs poured, allowing the tunnel to be built around existing infrastructure and form the structural base of the new facility.
However, the complexity of this approach introduced unexpected risks. As the tunnel took shape below ground, the shallow foundations of the ASC began to shift, threatening progress and safety. A structural diagnostics team was deployed, and the building was shored and stabilized. Despite the challenges, the tunnel was completed six months later, successfully rerouting chilled water, high-pressure steam, sewer, stormwater, and electrical systems.
With no room to spare on the ground, the construction crane had to be positioned within the building footprint as the DHI rose around it. Materials were staged on the roof of the ASC, yet another example of creative problem-solving for this team.
Throughout it all, the hospital never lost power or access to essential services, a testament to meticulous planning, engineering innovation, and relentless teamwork.
Designing in a Pandemic
This project also stands as a testament to adaptability. The DHI broke ground just as the COVID-19 pandemic began, forcing the team to pivot to a fully remote process. RLF transitioned seamlessly to online meetings and embraced real-time design collaboration. Working hand-in-hand with the DHI’s lead physicians, the team created live storytelling models and interactive visualizations that helped stakeholders clearly understand and shape the project. This approach not only streamlined the remote process but also revealed the powerful impact of co-creation. From floor plans to interior finishes, physicians helped shape a space tailor-made for advanced digestive care.
A New Benchmark for Digestive Health
The final facility delivers on its bold promise - to be a national leader in digestive health research, treatment, and education. The renovated 18,500-square-foot second floor of the Ambulatory Surgery Center houses CARE, the Center for Advanced Endoscopy, Research, and Education, equipped with six integrated endoscopy suites and audiovisual systems for live global broadcasts. The new 56,000-square-foot, four-story addition supports comprehensive gastroenterology, IBD, motility, and hepatology services, complete with clinical and lab spaces, a sterile processing department, guest elevators, and an expansive lobby.
The architectural solution ties everything together. Sleek metal panels and glass curtain walls wrap the tower’s dynamic forms. A curved canopy defines a distinct entry point for digestive care patients while maintaining continuity with the broader campus. Inside, the materials reflect a balance of modern technology and nature with calming colors, organic textures, and natural light that foster a healing environment. Spaces are zoned with clear sightlines and functional adjacencies, creating a seamless patient and provider experience.
The Orlando Health Digestive Health Institute is more than a building; it’s a symbol of resilience, creativity, and what’s possible when vision meets execution. From the front door of a leading hospital, through a web of underground infrastructure, to a facility co-designed in real-time during a global pandemic, this project is a landmark in every sense of the word. As the Institute welcomes patients and physicians from around the world, it stands as a model of what healthcare design can and should be.