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Originally printed in the SpaceMed Newsletter Spring-Summer 2015 www.spacemed.com

Estimating Surgery Suite Space Based on the Number of Operating Rooms Sometimes a preliminary space estimate is needed to evaluate location alterna-tives, conduct a feasibility study, or develop a preliminary cost estimate for con-struction or renovation. Once the number of operating rooms (ORs) is determined, an estimate of the total footprint required for the surgical suite can be made using the range of departmental gross square feet (DGSF) or department gross square meters (DGSM) per OR shown in the table below.

Aside from the economies of scale achieved by larger surgical suites, the largest single factor contributing to the overall size of the surgery suite is the size and spe-cialization of the individual ORs. For example, a surgical suite with specialty operat-ing rooms — all sized at 600 NSF (55.7 NSM) — would require an additional 500 DGSF (46.5 DGSM) per OR over a suite with general operating rooms. In addition to the incremental space for the larger operating rooms, additional storage space is generally required for specialty equipment. Furthermore, the design of a surgical suite requires the use of a large net-to-gross space conversion factor, which further compounds incremental space increases for individual rooms.

The next factor that contributes to the overall DGSF (DGSM) per OR is the propor-tion of outpatients and the type of patient care spaces to be provided in the prep and Phase II recovery areas. A higher percentage of outpatients treated in the sur-gical suite increases the number of prep and Phase II recovery spaces, which, in turn, increases the overall DGSF (DGSM) per OR. The use of larger private rooms for presurgery preparation and outpatient Phase II recovery also requires more space.

Type of Suite

Estimated DGSF (DGSM) Per Operating Room

Outpatient Surgery Suite 3,000 to 3,500 (278.7 to 325.2)

Hospital-Based Surgery Suite:

< 35% Outpatients

2,800 to 3,000 (260.1 to 278.7)

~ 50% Outpatients 3,000 to 3,500 (278.7 to 325.2)

> 65% Outpatients 3,200 to 3,500 (297.3 to 325.2)

Note: Department gross square feet/meters (DGSF/DGSM) represents the "footprint" of a department or functional component and includes the net square feet/meters (NSF/NSM) of the individual rooms as well as the space occupied by internal circulation corridors, walls/partitions, and minor utility shafts; DGSF excludes common areas such as shared public corridors and lobbies, elevator banks, stairwells, major mechanical spaces, and the space occupied by the building's exterior wall.

Source: SpaceMed Guide (Third Edition).