‘Chicago Med’ updates emergency department set with hybrid OR

In a perfect example of the ever-changing nature of production design for television dramas, the plot of NBC’sChicago Med” drove a change to the emergency department set.

At the start of Season 4, a new “hybrid operating room” project is approved and work starts to renovate part of the emergency room.

In Episode 2 of Season 4, a blocked off construction area can be seen several times in the background in one corner of the ED set. The ‘construction’ also becomes part of the plotline when a shortage of equipment comes up.

The room, which is just off the emergency department set, carries the blue color scheme found throughout Gaffney — but uses a slightly brighter shade to give the setting a distinctive look. Overall, the hybrid OR set is light and bright with much of the clean white equipment hanging from the ceiling, including lights, diagnostic equipment and video panels.

When the room is activated ahead of schedule, the lighting during surgery, becomes darker, with most of the light focused on the patient. 

Main photograph by Elizabeth Sisson

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