Expanding Berkeley Medical Center with a New Patient Bed Tower
West Virginia University Medicine (WVUM) selected HED to lead the design of its new patient bed tower at Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia. This facility represents one of the largest healthcare projects in the state and reflects WVUM’s commitment to providing world-class care to its community.
The new tower is designed to deliver an all-private patient room environment for acute care, advancing both comfort and quality of service. Beyond patient rooms, the project encompasses a wide array of critical improvements across the campus. New parking facilities will be introduced, the dietary department will be fully renovated, and updated materials management systems will streamline operations. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure will also be modernized to improve reliability and efficiency, ensuring the campus can meet current and future care demands.
A new pediatric emergency department, designed with a dedicated public corridor that connects to the existing tower, expands care options for families while improving wayfinding and access. Connectivity between the new and existing facilities is a core aspect of the plan, creating a seamless experience for patients, families, and staff across the campus.
The tower’s scale and siting will transform the identity of Berkeley Medical Center. Positioned prominently at the edge of the interstate, the facility will serve as a visible landmark for the region, signaling both the growth of WVUM and its investment in the community. By effectively reconfiguring the existing campus, the project creates a stronger, more unified environment for patient care.
This project also builds on HED’s decade-long collaboration with WVUM, during which the design team has helped establish exterior brand standards for the 26-hospital system. These guidelines, developed and refined through multiple projects, ensure consistency and recognition across the WVUM network while allowing each facility to reflect its local context. The new Berkeley Bed Tower embodies those standards while asserting itself as one of the most significant healthcare developments in West Virginia.
With its emphasis on private patient rooms, updated infrastructure, expanded pediatric services, and operational improvements, the Berkeley Bed Tower is a catalyst for transformation. Designed to elevate both the patient and staff experience, the project positions Berkeley Medical Center as a cornerstone of healthcare excellence in the state, continuing WVUM’s mission to deliver compassionate, world-class wvuwilletcare.
