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URMC identified an urgent need for expanded outpatient orthopaedic services and saw opportunity in the underused Marketplace Mall. The concept evolved from an ambitious vision to provide state-of-the-art care in a location with high visibility, accessibility, and community familiarity. The vacant Sears building offered structural advantages—large floor plates and high ceilings—that could support advanced medical spaces. Designers and the client collaborated closely, exploring ways to blend adaptive reuse with new construction, rethinking how a retail space could deliver care efficiently, comfortably, and equitably.
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By transforming a vacant anchor store into a vibrant healthcare destination, the project reactivates the suburban mall and shifts its function from retail to wellness. Located in a familiar commercial hub with direct public transit and ample parking, the center is easy to access, particularly for patients from underserved areas. The building’s openness, signage, and inviting forms reduce barriers to entry and shift public perception of healthcare facilities. It sets a precedent for revitalizing aging retail infrastructure into essential community-serving environments.
The adaptive reuse of 227,000 SF of existing building stock significantly reduced demolition waste and embodied carbon. Reuse of the Sears structure also lowered construction time and costs while preserving site resources. The project maximized daylighting through a central courtyard, decreasing reliance on artificial light. High-efficiency mechanical systems, envelope upgrades, and innovative air delivery systems further reduced operational energy demands.
The URMC Saunders Center is a groundbreaking example of adaptive reuse, converting a former retail space into one of the Northeast’s largest outpatient orthopaedic facilities. The 372,400-square-foot center combines 227,000 SF of renovated space with 145,400 SF of new construction, including a four-story clinic tower. Anchored by a surgery center with eight advanced ORs—including the nation’s first self-cleaning Clean Cube OR—the facility also features 160 exam rooms, a prosthetics lab, therapy pools, and advanced imaging. A central courtyard brings daylight deep into the therapy program, enhancing comfort and healing. The design embraces the theme of movement, expressed through fluid exterior forms and a textured, welcoming interior palette. White metal panels unify the new and existing structures, while the warm interiors and natural light foster a non-institutional patient experience. Located within a suburban mall, the project improves healthcare equity and access while reimagining the relationship between healthcare and community. Functionality, sustainability, and innovation define this transformative facility.
“This project is a true game-changer for our community. It brings world-class orthopaedic care into a space that’s accessible, welcoming, and familiar to our patients. By repurposing the former Sears store, we not only revitalized the mall but redefined how and where care can be delivered.” — URMC Representative
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With an international team of more than 2,400 professionals, we have over 30 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Our partners include Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; Portland; Nelson\Nygaard; and Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR).
