New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Heart Center
The NHRMC Cardiology Center brings together multiple practices and specialty services within a single, purpose-built destination, enhancing access to outpatient cardiovascular care while alleviating congestion on the main hospital campus.
LOCATION Wilmington, NC
COMPLETED 2014
SIZE 63,000 SF
PHOTOGRAPHER Walt Dowdy
AWARDS AIA Wilmington
Strategic Realignment
The facility consolidates three existing cardiology practices into a unified clinical environment on the ground floor, while the upper levels house advanced cardiac imaging, stress testing, nuclear medicine, a pacemaker lab, physician offices, and a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program. Wellness-focused amenities—including a walking track, patient education spaces, counseling rooms, and centralized registration—support a seamless continuum of care.
Reflecting evolving trends in healthcare workplace design, the project incorporates an efficient open-office model for physicians complemented by dedicated privacy rooms for focused work and confidential conversations. Shared amenities—including the rehabilitation gym, healthy juice bar, and education spaces—maximize flexibility, promote interdisciplinary engagement, and prioritize space dedicated to patient care, wellness, and long-term operational value.
Design Details
Located adjacent to the hospital campus, the Cardiology Center is organized around two program wings linked by a light-filled central atrium, creating an open, visually connected environment that enhances wayfinding and the overall patient experience. The ground floor consolidates clinical services from four cardiology practices into a single, easily accessible destination, while the upper levels accommodate advanced cardiac imaging, stress testing, nuclear medicine, a pacemaker lab, physician workspaces, and a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program featuring a walking track, counseling rooms, centralized registration, and patient education spaces.
Designed to support evolving models of care, the upper-floor workplace environment prioritizes transparency, flexibility, and collaboration. Replacing traditional private physician offices with open work areas and shared team spaces fosters communication, strengthens interdisciplinary connections, and maximizes space dedicated to patient care and clinical operations.
