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 (ACC) 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.