Gresham Smith designed the UF Health Rehabilitation, Healthy Living Center & YMCA with a proactive approach to health and wellness to serve the community of Yulee, Florida.

Completed in October 2020, the UF Health Rehabilitation, Healthy Living Center & YMCA is the latest addition to Raydient Places + Properties Wildlight community in Yulee, FL. The Wildlight community is a health-centric campus that aims to take a proactive approach to health and wellness to improve quality of life.

The 37,000-square-foot facility is comprised of a 10,000-square-foot UF Health rehabilitation center, a two-story 25,000-square-foot YMCA, and a 2,000-square-foot concourse and healthy living center. The UF Health rehabilitation center offers occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology to adult and pediatric patients.

This is the fifth UF Health outpatient rehabilitation facility, and the first full-service pediatric rehabilitation office. The new YMCA facility includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, educational programming, and plenty of community event space. The Healthy Living Center and YMCA create a place for Wildlight residents to interact with neighbors, while also expanding much needed rehabilitation services.

The UF Health Healthy Living Center and YMCA offers a modern take on historical Florida architecture. The facility embodies a clear architectural language that corresponds with the guiding design principle of the Wildlight community.

UF Health Rehabilitation, Healthy Living Center & YMCA features Florida Low Country (FLOCO) design, a concept created by Raydient Places + Properties when developing this community. Seamlessly matching the homes within the Wildlight community, the UF Health Healthy Living Center and YMCA incorporates high ceilings, large windows, and surrounding porches typical of Florida Low Country and Florida Cracker architecture. Seashells can be found in the wayfinding signage, creating a tasteful take on coastal design.

Accompanying the modern exterior, the interior welcomes guests with a sleek and bright color palette throughout the building. The interior features glazing, wood tones, and pops of color to influence the energy throughout the facility. Overall, the building perfectly ties together a modern look and feel with traditional Florida design.

Design: Gresham Smith
Photography: Chad Baumer