Boston Med Flight has been in operation since 1986 and has transported over 70,000 critical care patients during that time. As the result of organic growth over the years, Boston MedFlight’s aviation, ground transport, training and administrative operations had become fragmented without the benefit of a master plan. After an organizational study and future growth needs assessment was undertaken it was identified that core operations needed to be consolidated into a single location in order to reduce costs and increase the quality of service.
Per code, the required aircraft hangar, ambulance bay, and offices are each distinct building use types that normally require a separate building. In order to meet the project goals however, these functions needed to be contiguous and fit on a tight site.
Working closely with the owner’s representative to prioritize the needs of each department, UDA designed a building program that met both the current and future growth needs of Boston Med Flight. This solution required the design of separate buildings with a zero clearance adjacency allowing the building to look like a single structure but act as separate buildings per the code.
The project goals to consolidate operations/training, streamline services, and most importantly reduce response times for critical care patients have been achieved. With the addition of this new facility, Boston Med Flight will be able to expand their unique contribution to the health and safety of New England residents for many years to come.
Boston MedFlight gave UDA a nearly impossible task: design a purpose-built facility that would meet our administrative, clinical training, aviation operations and maintenance, communications and crew habitability needs… and do it within the limited budget of a small, non-profit business. And they did it! One of the most impressive aspects of the design process was UDA’s ability to help us identify our needs and solutions to those needs before we even knew they existed!