Press Releases August 8, 2024

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center’s Malone Family Tower is a Sustainable Investment in the Next Generation of Health Care

Ten years in the making, the new campus landmark ushers in 96 patient rooms, 40 pre- and post-surgical beds, and 19 procedure rooms.

PORTLAND, Maine—MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC) Portland welcomed its first patient on June 9 to the Malone Family Tower, an 8-story addition to the hospital’s historic campus in Portland, ME. The new tower, designed by Perkins&Will, is the culmination of a decade-long partnership between the architecture firm and MHMMC to enhance patient access to hospital-based care, create more private rooms, and facilitate better patient outcomes.

“MHMMC’s cardiovascular team provides extraordinary care, and with the Malone Family Tower, we have a facility that matches the high standards they set,” says MaineHealth Southern Region Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joel Botler. “Previously, we could not serve all of the patients who require this type of care; the new tower allows us to meet current and future needs.”

MHMMC serves approximately 31,000 inpatients from across New England each year as a part of MaineHealth, one of the nation’s top integrated healthcare delivery networks. Approaching 150 years in service, hospital leadership wanted to remain at the location of their founding but needed to address urgent infrastructure and community needs such as inefficient space allocation and a shortage of surgical beds. The hospital also needed to respond to population growth in the Portland area and required additional facilities to serve an aging population with health disparities arising from poverty, with an emphasis on cardiac care.

As the largest ground-up construction of the planning and development initiative, which also included overbuilds, renovations of existing structures, and interior fit-outs, the Malone Family Tower creates a new gateway to the hospital campus. Its design seeks to strengthen community, improve environmental and human health, and provide innovative, flexible clinical spaces to meet patient needs for the next generation.

The tower provides 96 highly-adaptable universal patient rooms adjacent to surgical and procedural suites.

Care for One of the Nation’s Largest Aging Populations

An assessment by PRECEDE, an open-source public health dashboard developed by Perkins&Will, reveals Maine’s high incidence rates of numerous medical conditions: The state’s aging population is already in the 98th percentile nationally for households over 64 years of age, and suffers from cancer (100th percentile), asthma (90th percentile), COPD (88th percentile), physical disability (88th percentile), and heart disease (84th percentile). Maine’s population outlook from 2023 reports that “the age 65 and older cohort is expected to see growth of 36.2% from 2020 to 2030 as the youngest baby boomers age into this group,” increasing the potential population in need of hospital-based treatment significantly in the coming decade.

When planning the Malone Family Tower, Perkins&Will worked closely with MHMMC to design for these unique needs, according to Jeff Keilman, a healthcare principal at the firm. “We conducted many early morning workshops to ensure that diverse clinical perspectives could be present. Through this process, we achieved a thoughtful plan that maximizes flexibility,” he says. “As a result, the Malone Family Tower helps realize the hospital’s mission to serve the state of Maine today and in the future.”

Located at the site of a former parking structure that had reached the end of its life, MHMMC’s new bed tower allows the hospital to improve patient access to meet the growing demand. Ninety-six universal patient rooms can be transitioned from emergency spaces to longer duration stays as needed. Previously, cardiac care departments were siloed; operating rooms were in one area, and image-guided technology was in another. Now, these spaces are adjacent to minimize the distance between related functions.

The flexible and efficient planning also creates a better staff experience by increasing ease of transit and minimizing time between related spaces, to combat some stressors that can lead to healthcare worker burnout.

The green roof integrates sustainable strategies and connects patients and the care team with the local landscape.

Clinical and public areas integrate natural wood and prioritize access to daylight.

Building a Sustainable Future

The Malone Family Tower completed a whole-building lifecycle assessment during its design phase to reduce embodied carbon—the first building of its kind in Maine to do so. The design team prioritized material health to promote the well-being of patients, staff, and practitioners, including a natural wood paneling system in public areas that has a low carbon footprint, provides biophilic properties, and improves acoustics. The warmth attributed to the wood extends into the clinical areas, where rubber flooring and wall paneling maintain a cohesive aesthetic and support health. The design team also prioritized durability to limit repairs and replacements, supporting the long-term use and sustainability of the space.

Throughout the decade-long campus development process, successful master planning and scenario testing set a baseline for sustainable growth that will minimize future renovations, reducing lifecycle costs in both construction and environmental impact. The tower also has a green roof comprised of local plant species to reduce water runoff, minimize any heat island effect, and offer a calming space for patients and care team members.

“Creating healthcare environments where patients, caregivers, and staff can thrive requires a holistic approach to caring for people,” says Yanel de Angel, managing director of Perkins&Will’s Boston studio. “It is about designing intentional spaces that promote well-being, where people can find respite and calm; about achieving the right building performance to create a quality experience; and about designing with empathy to remove barriers at every moment in the wellness journey.”

A Gateway to Healing, Rooted in Place

The Malone Family Tower serves as a welcoming gateway to the MHMMC campus through transparent navigation and ease of access from the street and parking levels. Along Congress Street, a major artery in Portland, the building’s faceted façade opens into an airy seven-story central atrium that visually connects the public concourse to clinical spaces and lounges for visitors and staff.

Designers drew inspiration from local topography and tradition. The rugged stone, woods, and water of the Maine coastline informed materials choices in the architecture, atrium, and patient areas. On the green roof, native flora is interspersed with rocky outcroppings, reminiscent of the local landscape. Strategically placed openings in the exterior cladding reveal views of the city and the nearby Fore River; internally, open views into patient rooms from hallways facilitate care and connection.

“The Malone Family Tower celebrates the natural beauty of Maine,” says senior interior project designer Juliette Bowker. “It was a pleasure to work with MHMMC to bring this vision to life. It is gratifying to know that this new hospital will provide high-quality care to the citizens of Maine and a comfortable, healing environment for patients, families, and staff.”

The central atrium provides daylight to clinical spaces and both visitor and staff lounges.

Forty new pre- and post-surgical beds help meet needs for the next generation.

“It was a pleasure to work with MHMMC to bring this vision to life. It is gratifying to know that this new hospital will provide high-quality care to the citizens of Maine and a comfortable, healing environment for patients, families, and staff.”

— Senior Interior Designer, Juliette Bowker

Learn more about the Malone Family Tower.

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center’s Malone Family Tower is a Sustainable Investment in the Next Generation of Health Care

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