Nebraska Medicine Innovation Design Unit
Nebraska Medicine Innovation Design Unit
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Omaha, NE
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Nebraska Medicine
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23,996 SF Inpatient Unit
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Modular and Adaptive: Patient rooms and care zones designed for reconfiguration, allowing teams to trial different layouts, technologies, and workflows.
Digitally Enhanced: The unit integrates smart systems for real-time location tracking, virtual care delivery, and data collection to support continuous improvement.
Human-Centered: Natural light, calming materials, and intuitive wayfinding contribute to a healing environment for patients and a supportive workspace for staff.
Innovation in Practice through:
Virtual nursing models that extend the reach of clinical teams.
Prototype equipment and furnishings that can be swapped and evaluated in real-world conditions.
Collaborative research through the adjacent Bridge Innovation Program, where ideas can be rapidly developed and deployed.
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Architecture
Interior architecture
The Innovation Design Unit (IDU) at UNMC was conceived as a forward-thinking response to the evolving demands of healthcare. Rather than simply building a new inpatient unit, the university and its partners envisioned a living laboratory - a space where clinical care, research, and design innovation converge in real time.
This unit is the first tangible outcome of a broader strategic initiative known as Project Health, a multi-billiondollar investment in the future of healthcare delivery and education. The IDU is not just a place to treat patients, it’s a platform to test, learn, and refine the systems and environments that will define tomorrow’s hospitals.
The IDU was shaped through an inclusive, interdisciplinary process involving hundreds of voices and collaboration from over 800 stakeholders; including frontline clinicians and patients to architects and engineers. More than a building, the Innovation Design Unit is a catalyst for transformation - a place where the future of healthcare is not only imagined but actively built, tested, and refined.
