West Haven, CT A/Z Corp. and SLAM joined Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) as they broke ground for its new regional operations center (ROC) at 600 Derby Ave.

The ROC will contain spaces for pharmacies, medical device storage, linen operations, repair shops, high-bay warehousing, loading docks, and administration in its 140,000 s/f footprint. This will allow YNHHS to receive and distribute resources to its five hospitals and outpatient facilities.

The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM) is the design team and A/Z Corp. is serving as the construction manager. Both A/Z and SLAM are working with YNHHS to derive timelines, schedules, and execution strategies to ensure the building is completed effectively and efficiently while fulfilling YNHHS’s vision for the ROC.

The exterior design of the ROC seeks to reflect the YNHHS brand. The large scale of the building is moderated by first recessing the east elevation and utilizing two exterior treatments to break down the mass of the building. The main entrance is articulated with framed expanses of glass curtain wall. The balance of the façade takes a modular approach using precast concrete panels with large repeating windows.

The materials palette consists of precast concrete, pre-finished metal canopies over the loading docks and main entrance, pre-finished aluminum, and glass window systems. To control solar heat gain, the southern elevation incorporates horizontal shading devices.

While the vast majority of the ROC is a large warehouse and distribution facility for YNHHS, the opportunity for an impactful design at the main entry, public corridors, offices, and staff support areas was evident.  SLAM’s design team took advantage of the minimalist aesthetic of the warehouse and purposefully brought the industrial feel into the public spaces utilized by staff and visitors daily. 

Interior elements include polished concrete floors, visible structure, and stainless steel, contrasted by the warmth of natural maple wood beams below exposed ceilings.  Pops of brightly colored accent paints and furniture fabrics reinforce YNHH’s branding. Finish selections throughout the facility were based on the YNHH Interior Master Plan standards, developed and maintained by SLAM. 

Daniel Fenyn, AIA, principal-in-charge at SLAM, said, “Yale New Haven Health has been a great client for many years, and we are happy to support them in their development.”

“The ROC facility is going to be an invaluable asset to YNHHS,” said Don Swanson, A/Z’s vice president. “We are proud to be a part of a project that is so important to their future.”

 The construction is expected to be completed in 2019.