The Saitama Medical University International Medical Center integrates three Centers of Excellence (COE) for comprehensive cancer care, heart disease and emergency medical care to create a new-style hospital for acute treatment. The central areas connecting the hospital wings house a common surgical area and departments with advanced diagnostic equipment. Each COE is connected to these areas, while having its own out-patient department and hospital wing. The foyer area from the main entrance to the outpatient reception for each COE (the hospital street) is conceived as a wide boulevard, while the large central courtyard between the hospital wings enhances the healing environment, and plays a wayfinding role.