MedStar Washington Hospital Center Burn Center

Our firm was honored to be selected by MedStar Washington Hospital Center to lead the design for the renovation and expansion of its renowned Burn ICU. This project builds upon a 50-year legacy of service that began when the Burn Center admitted its first patient on July 13, 1972, and it reaffirms the hospital’s enduring partnership with the D.C. Fire Department.

Our primary design objective was to transform the existing unit into a state-of-the-art facility that would empower clinicians and promote healing. We embarked on a deeply collaborative process, working hand-in-hand with experts—the surgeons, nurses, and therapists of the Burn Center. Their invaluable frontline experience was the bedrock of our design, ensuring every decision directly supported their life-saving work.

The resulting design strategically enhances both function and safety. We modernized ten patient rooms with advanced infection control measures and upgraded medical infrastructure. A cornerstone of our plan was integrating a new, cutting-edge procedure room directly within the ICU, a critical design choice that minimizes patient transport. Our design also introduced two dedicated hydrotherapy rooms, expanding the unit's capacity for essential wound care.

Executing a major renovation within an active critical care unit was our most significant challenge. Through meticulous phasing and constant communication with hospital leadership, our team ensured the project moved forward without disrupting ongoing patient care.

This project represents the successful completion of Phase One in a visionary, multi-phase plan to create a fully comprehensive burn center for the D.C. area. We are immensely proud to have designed a facility that not only honors a fifty-year legacy but also provides the critical foundation for the future of burn care in the region.