Holy Cross Health Center & Emergency Care

In a community where traditional hospital care was inaccessible for some residents, Holy Cross Health engaged NELSON to deliver a 25,000 SF multi-disciplinary facility. Our Healthcare team acted as a strategic partner, working closely with Holy Cross Health stakeholders from early planning and programming to align the physical environment with business goals and company values. By balancing immediate operational challenges with a long-term vision, NELSON aided Holy Cross Health in minimizing project risk while planning for future growth and flexibility.

Because the project was executed within an occupied, meticulous coordination was necessary from the start. NELSON maximized the functionality of the existing building footprint, allowing Holy Cross Health to get more from their square footage while keeping the project on budget.

Inside, the architecture transitions into an efficient racetrack layout designed to optimize patient and staff workflows. By positioning central nurse stations in the core of the floor plate, entirely enveloped by 15 emergency treatment rooms, an advanced imaging suite, and full laboratory functionality, the design minimizes travel distances and accelerates clinical response times. This operational efficiency is balanced with dedicated staff quiet zones and specialized patient spaces, including negative-pressure isolation rooms. Integrated branding and custom wallpaper further weave Holy Cross Health’s values into the physical environment, creating an approachable, familiar space that lowers the barrier to local care.

The Deerfield Beach community’s new, much-needed free-standing emergency department demonstrates how strategic design can transform real estate constraints into a powerful engine for community health and operational resilience. By consolidating 24/7 emergency capabilities and specialized clinical services under one roof, the project ensures that both life-saving interventions and community care are immediately accessible. NELSON delivered a high-performance environment that optimized operational efficiency, kept the renovation strictly on-budget, and established a resilient framework primed for future growth and flexibility.