Construction continues in the new hospital as empty galaxies of space transform into identifiable rooms and work stations for patients, guests and employees. But in its shadow to the north, Trinity Health’s Medical Office Building is nearly complete and awaits move-in day, much like its new residents.
With roughly 200,000 sq. ft. of space, the Medical Office Building (MOB) is one-third the size of the hospital and has five floors of offices that house approximately 20 departments. All floors are directly linked to the hospital via “connectors,” and like the hospital, the sixth floor of the MOB remains unfinished and available for future expansion.
Shortly after breaking ground in 2018, an Aesthetics Committee was formed and tasked to collaborate with the architect of record and lead designer in creating a healing environment in both properties that exuded calm and tranquility.
“The first decision was to decide the theme, which influenced everything else moving forward,” said committee member, Alison Frye. “Once that was decided, the design team presented color schemes that included walls, accents, trim and all textures – such as fabrics, flooring, window coverings and furniture.”
In May 2020, a few committee members visited The Merchandise Mart in Chicago, where they spent two dizzying days trekking through 4 million sq. ft. of showrooms looking at sleeper sofas, patient recliners, office chairs, and waiting room, cafeteria and office furniture. Sights were set on narrowing their selections to several manufacturers.
That September, the selected vendors came to Minot and set up displays in a Trinity Health warehouse. Directors and assistant directors were invited to attend the showcase and asked to rate the furniture in order of preference. After the votes were tallied, over 100 desks and nearly 1,500 chairs were purchased for the MOB, based on staff recommendations.
To keep items in their intended place, the fabric patterns picked for each floor are similar, but in different colors, based on the floor’s theme. Themes for floors one through five are: water, earth, living things, air and fire. Artwork also will correspond to each floor’s theme and will be reminiscent of local scenery.
“Each floor has a unique i.d. The desks and task (office) chairs are the same throughout the building, but waiting room chairs will have different colors, so if one is moved to another location, we know where it belongs,” Frye said.
Trinity’s recognizable green will be featured in spaces like the ER corridor and cafeteria at the hospital.
For a sneak peek, below is a list of the departments relocating to the MOB in spring 2023:
Floor 1:
• Patient Registration
• Pre-Admission Testing
• Community Resource Center (Library)
• New Retail Pharmacy with drive up window
• New KeyCare Medical
• Outpatient Lab
• Kidney Dialysis Unit
Floor 2:
• Cardiac Rehab
• Urology
• Cardiology
• Infectious Disease
• Pulmonology
• Ultrasound
Floor 3:
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Nephrology
• OB/GYN
Floor 4:
• Hand Surgery/Hand Therapy
• Rheumatology
• Podiatry Foot & Ankle Clinic
• Orthopedics/Sports Medicine
Floor 5:
• Gastroenterology
• General Surgery
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Ear, Nose, & Throat
• Audiology
• Clinic Operations
Special attention was paid to patient-centered elements to create positive reactions for all populations within the hospital and MOB. As Trinity Health’s healthcare campus and medical district nears completion, patients and staff will notice many wonderful changes. However, the commitment to comfortable visits, faster healing and improved outcomes remains steadfast.