MUSC Health, Kiawah Partners Medical Pavilion / FSED + MOB

The MUSC Health Kiawah Partners Medical Pavilion is a 12,056 SF healthcare facility expanding emergency and outpatient services for Johns Island, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island. Addressing rapid growth and travel times to the nearest hospital, it delivers timely care in an efficient, community-scaled setting. The facility combines a freestanding emergency department (FSED) and medical office building (MOB) with trauma care, imaging, lab services, primary and specialty care, telehealth, and rehabilitation.

A ground-level helipad enhances emergency response. The project reflects an adaptable design process shaped by COVID-19 disruptions. Multiple pauses and a post-groundbreaking site relocation required reinitiated master planning, adjusting building scale and site strategy. The helipad was relocated from roof to grade to improve operations.

The facility features universal exam rooms supporting multiple specialties and standardized ED treatment rooms for efficient operations. Fast-track triage improves throughput, while telemedicine and behavioral health integration inform planning. A single public entrance simplifies access and security, with a shared vestibule separating emergency and ambulatory flows. Off-stage staff areas optimize workflow and maintain patient privacy.

The pavilion balances MUSC Health’s brand standards with the Lowcountry context. The design reflects coastal character with a prominent entry canopy inspired by MUSC’s sail motif, creating a recognizable identity for the community. Correspondingly, our design team chose an interior color palette drawing from the surrounding sea islands. MUSC Health’s arts committee collaborated with local artists to create wall graphics and murals highlighting the natural Lowcountry scenery.

By delivering 24/7 emergency services with integrated outpatient care, the MUSC Medical Pavilion reduces access barriers and strengthens healthcare outcomes across the coastal Sea Islands region.