Evening star., 1947-10-17
Hospital
To Have Single
Large Building
Tentative Plan Shown
For ! 500 Bed Unit
At Observatory
By Thomas 6. Buehanon

Representatives of the hos
pitfalls which will pool their re-
sources in the Districts new
1,500-bed Hospital Center have
had their first look at a tentative
model of the giant medical in
Stitution.
Details of the proposed plan were
learned by The Star today from
Federal Works Agency officials, who
stressed that many alterations may
be made before agreement is reached
on the final design.
The hospitals construction by
FWA was authorized by Congress
last year Emergency, Episcopal and
Garfield Hospitals and the Warwick
Clinic will move into the hospital
center when it is completed. Pres
ent plans call for the hospital to
rise on a section of the Naval OBJ
servatory tract.
Five Wings Planned.
In the first rough sketch of the
center, shown by Federal architects
to officials of the participating hos
pitfalls this week as "a focus for
discussion" the institution would
be concentrated in single large
Building
1t would have long lateral corri-
dors, with three wings on one side
and another at each flank. Each of
the five wings, according to the pre-
Hmlnary plan, would provide about
800 beds for patients.
Across the corridor from the three
center wings would be large sec
tion housing the administration,
treatment and outpatient facilities.
Hospital visitors and outpatients
would have separate entrances to
that section.
Calls for Nurses Home"
An important feature of the plan
calls for ambulances and supply
vehicles to approach the hospital
through a hooded entrance at the
rear leading into the basement.
Authorities hope thereby to shield
the patients from the disagreeable
sights and noises accompanying the
arrival of emergency cases as we'll
as the loading and unloading OF
trucks.
The hospitals taking part in the
new medical center now intend to
combine their resources to establish
single central kitchen and one
nursing school. There also will be
large nurses home to house all
the student nurses and many of
the graduates, but its location de-
pends on the exact site chosen
for the hospital. A parking area
to accommodate 1000 cars also is
contemplated.
Of the heating plant of the operat-
ing rooms and other specific sec
tlons of the hospital, there is not
yet general agreement Nor has the
pportionment of the five wings
among the participating hospitals
been decided. The height of the
main structure is another contro-
versial item
Design Still Incomplete.
In general. it is expected that
Episcopal will continue to carry on
its eye, ear, nose and throat work,
while Warwick Clinic will enlarge
its cancer facilities. Garfield is
expected to continue its extensive
maternity service and Emergency
will maintain it's emergency func-
ton. So far as possible, the work
of all the existing hospitals will be
co-ordinated in single, unified
medical program.
The block model and sketches now
being studied by the FWA, hospital
representatives have been advised.
represent only the initial tentative
plan and will be studied for pos
sible bugs" before final approval
The model does not yet embody
the completed design of the build
ing. as decided upon by the Public
Buildings Administration" it was
pointed out by Franklin Ford, ed
itorial assistant to Public Build
ings Commissioner w. E. Reynolds
He said hospital officials would
be kept informed, through meet
ings to be called by the FWA, of
any new recommendations of the
Federal architects.