UHealth at SoLé Mia to Bring Specialty Academic Medical Services to North Miami, Florida

UHealth – University of Miami Health System is building a 370,000-square-foot medical facility within a 184-acre mixed-use development in North Miami, Florida.

Expected to be UHealth’s largest outpatient medical facility when it opens in summer 2025, UHealth at SoLé Mia will bring world-class academic medical specialties, including cancer care, cardiology and neurology, to the North Miami and Aventura communities and surrounding areas.

Connecting with the community, the seven-story facility site will include an open green space with a reflection garden and views of the ocean and lagoons for those receiving expanded services.

Here, Parry LaGro, principal and practice leader, U.S. East, at Arcadis Inc. (Miami), the project’s architect and interior designer, talks about the demand for community-based outpatient care.

What prompted UHealth to bring outpatient services to this mixed-use development?

UHealth’s goal is to grow its presence and expand its services where people live, work and play. The SoLé Mia mixed-use site has been revitalized in recent years and has improved residents’ quality of life. Bringing a state-of-the-art outpatient medical facility into the community aligns with UHealth’s goal of bringing academic medicine closer to where people live.

How is the facility designed to support a multidisciplinary team approach?

UHealth SoLé Mia is an extension of academic medicine offered by UHealth and the Miller School of Medicine, providing patients with cutting-edge research, the latest therapies and access to clinical trials. The site will feature 110 exam rooms, 10 operating rooms, 33 cancer treatment rooms, state-of-the-art diagnostics and a multitude of specialties, including the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Desai Sethi Urology Institute.

Physicians and support staff will maintain the same level of collaboration with their fellow physicians and researchers. As health care becomes less invasive, the facility will offer residents and fellows new learning experiences in the area of ​​outpatient care.

How are patient needs for convenience and accessibility considered in planning?

During the planning process for UHealth’s ambulatory medical centers, Arcadis and UHealth representatives participated in extensive patient and employee journey mapping to anticipate their unique needs, which were then incorporated into the design process.

The goal was to make the patient and caregiver experience more convenient, comfortable, and accessible. Accessibility is improved with wayfinding signs in the adjacent parking lot, reminding patients after a full day of doctor appointments. Concierges on the first floor provide additional directions. Patients have requested wheelchair-height check-in counters. Non-slip flooring reduces the risk of falls, and benches throughout the facility provide patients with a place to catch their breath.

UHealth at SoLé Mia will be at the forefront of using the latest advancements to ensure a seamless approach to healthcare delivery for our patients and visitors. Innovative geo-located self-check-in kiosks with ID verification and parking metering software are just a few of the technologies that will enhance the patient journey and improve operational efficiency for staff and physicians.

The design process was also informed by patients through the health system’s Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) program, which included current and former patients/visitors who provided input on design elements such as wayfinding and signage, circulation and access to public space, examination room layout, and furniture/equipment.

The team also ensured that the interior spaces were welcoming, calming and therapeutic. The building was created with the needs of patients in mind. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the lobby with natural light, drawing attention to nature-inspired artwork. The soothing scent of aromatherapy and a gentle piano melody will fill the air.

Do you think there will be more demand for community-based outpatient care?

Yes. Many healthcare services continue to shift to the outpatient setting because of innovative clinical care that does not require a hospital stay. As a result, we are seeing more and more organizations providing multidisciplinary outpatient medical care under one roof so patients can get the care they need and go home the same day.

How will this trend impact the healthcare design industry?

The growing presence of advanced ambulatory medical centers in community settings will serve as a model for transforming the design of health care. This trend will continue to bring new ideas to the forefront through the latest advances in academic clinical care, research and education to meet the evolving needs of patients, health care professionals and communities at large.

Tracey Walker is the Editor-in-Chief of Healthcare Design and can be reached at [email protected].