A “Super Clinic” for the Air Force

When inpatient functions were sent across town to another medical center, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio was left without a hospital or emergency department. The largest ambulatory care center built by the Department of Defense to date, the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Care Center at Lackland Air Force Base is a $457 million “Super Clinic” focusing on outpatient care, yet functionally operating as a hospital without beds.

Far from ordinary, the ACC is not a typical bland, boxy governmental building. Sporting an aviation-inspired design, the building layout resembles jets flying in formation from above. The ACC serves as the primary Air Force medical training center and provides full-service outpatient care to military veterans, active military and their families.

The 644,000-square-foot ACC includes urgent care, primary care, women’s health, orthopedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, medical clinics, surgical sub-specialties, mental health and full ancillary services, including radiology, surgery, lab and pharmacy, and logistics.

Key features of the ACC include:

• At three stories, the facility boasts a total of seven gardens between the interior and rooftop, a chapel, a full-height concourse entrance and many other architectural features that make the building not only functional, but also aesthetically pleasing for patients and visitors.
• A merging of styles that blends the regional character of central Texas with the high-tech expression of the Armed Forces is reflected in the design through masonry, bronze and metal. Interior finishes are a mix of bronze metal accents and include a neutral palette, while the exterior finishes — designed and built with anti-terrorism security measures — are sleek, shiny and bold.
• To establish a world class medical outpatient program, evidence-based design principles, best practice solutions and the expression of sustainable design were incorporated. These efforts included creating a patient-and family-centered healing environment that is functionally efficient and flexible, and intuitively navigable.
• Access to natural light, views to nature, intuitive wayfinding, enhanced sustainability through energy reduction and modular design of clinics for future flexibility.
• The airport-style concourse acts as the major orientation device for the complex, while internal courtyards aid in navigation and create pockets of light and intimate healing environments.
• On-stage and off-stage concepts were interwoven in the development of the design and staff movement, as well as back of house activities, will happen in areas separate from public zones.
• The design includes the addition of a 1,000-car, multi-level parking garage and new central energy plant.