Upstate University Hospital Emergency Department Entrance

Upstate University Hospital required a canopy replacement in front of the main emergency department entrance, which is tucked behind a concrete retaining wall on an uphill, one-way street. The canopy was intended to protect those below, but In the winter months, ice would occasionally fall off the building onto the sidewalk and ambulances below.

The difficulty of constructing a canopy in an active emergency department parking lot entrance was fully anticipated during the design phase. The emergency department entrance doors were closed for approximately four hours while dual cranes placed 110 ft clear span steel truss. The project included a roof canopy, complete repavement of the parking area, and a partial roof replacement on the 6th floor was also included in the project.

The canopy serves as a wayfinding tool, as the existing signage was inadequate to alert drivers toward the entrance. The canopy mechanically extracts vehicle exhaust and provides a shower area for outdoor patient decontamination.

Big Idea

To provide a safe and accessible entrance for the emergency department