To enhance hospital access and to accommodate an increase in Emergency Department visits, Wooster Community Hospital engaged Hasenstab Architects to design the Richard and Donna Smetzer Emergency Center.

The facility not only expands emergency care capacity but also establishes a welcoming new “front door” for the entire hospital campus. Patient access is prioritized with check-in, reception, cashier, and blood draw services conveniently located just inside the new main entrance, and a first-floor connector links the addition to the rest of the hospital.

At the core of the Emergency Center is a spacious, open nurses’ station that offers clear sightlines to the surrounding treatment rooms. A centrally located physician workspace supports staff interaction while also providing a quieter area for charting. Nearby, a semi‑private results waiting area gives patients a comfortable place to wait for discharge instructions or IV medication completion, helping free treatment rooms for incoming patients. Additionally, a four-bed observation space was included for individuals requiring extended monitoring. The space also serves pediatric patients.