A new Emergency Department challenges the status quo of government architecture resulting in a dramatically better environment for the VA patient, family, caregivers, institution, and broader community. Increased daylight, intuitive wayfinding, and a highly functional, flexible layout are transforming the VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City. These improvements support a wide range of patient and family needs while allowing staff to spend more time on care. To create a more accessible, state-of-the-art emergency department with stronger connections to Radiology, the project required demolition of the existing Administration Wing—ultimately doubling the capacity of the former emergency services.