An improved operating room design is disclosed. Interfering connection devices, such as wires, cables, and hoses, are eliminated from the working area by use of disappearing floor pods mounted between a sub-floor and a finished floor. The floor pods recess flush with said finished floor, thereby allowing floor cleaning by a robotic device that incorporates disposable, sterile cleaning cartridges. Movable carts, such as an anesthesiology cart, are adapted for docking with said pods on the upper surface of said pods with connectors presented underneath said carts. Said pods provide numerous utility connections such as gas, vacuum, and electric. Gas and vacuum lines are preferably supplied from a universal adaptor. A surgical table is mounted on the sub-flooring of the operating room. AU utilities are fed to the table from underneath the floor. The surgery operating room has a wall with an array of built-in compartments for carrying medical supplies that allows access to personnel both in and outside the operating room. The operating room preferably also includes a ceiling with focusing, "shadow-less" lights and/or a mounted imaging C-arm. Flat panel monitors are also embedded in one or more walls for real-time displays of information. In addition, the operating room walls provide a calming, ambient light by way of surfacing with translucent materials which are backlit.