Combining the layout and equipment requirements of pharmacy, behavioral health, primary care, and dental health facilities, the Sandy Health Center is a portal for patients to find everything they need when it comes to their health and wellbeing.

Clear wayfinding and a large floor-to-ceiling window wall line the entrance to the building, welcoming patients into the shared waiting room and directing staff to the center of the space. A shared corridor for the clinic’s employees creates opportunities to interact and mingle across departments and leads the way to break room amenities. Along the edges of the corridor are mountain photo panels, a tile mosaic of Mt. Hood, and an overhead skylight, solidifying the connections between the Health Center and the natural features of the Cascades.

Safety and security measures designed to blend in with the regular features of the patient waiting area include an alternative route through to the clinic’s consultation and exam areas for patients who may benefit from immediate assistance in the main entry. An on-site pharmacy also allows patients to pick up prescriptions on their way out of the clinic, saving time and effort.

The waiting area itself is a large space, with lots of exposed beams and natural light. Yet, the wooden trusses help it feel more human-scaled. A skylight in the main hallway and large window walls bring in plenty of daylight, connecting the interior of the clinic to biophilia and natural outdoor elements. Within the behavioral health wing of the building, exam room layouts include smaller windows where patients sit, for working staff to bring fresh air into their workspaces.

Outside, additional safety considerations include porous paving and below-sidewalk heating elements to melt snow and ice during winter months and prevent patients from slipping while entering the clinic. A shared corridor for the three departments creates opportunities for staff to interact and mingle across departments and leads the way to break room amenities like a kitchenette and an outdoor pocket courtyard.

Design: Ankrom Moisan
Photography: Shelsi Lindquist