The Durham Spine & Pain Institute is an interior fit-out of a pain clinic and treatment centre located on the third (podium) floor of a new condominium building in Ajax. To support patients in their journey through pain management, the clinic features a calm and acoustically-treated open space, with a comfortable reception and waiting area.

The clinic consists of a primary reception, consultation rooms, procedure and treatment rooms, and an infusion lounge across from the central nursing station. Medical staff areas include offices, meeting rooms and a lounge. Working closely with the partners of the clinic, themes of wellness and health restoration were developed early in the project, setting the tone for natural materials, simplicity of form, texture, a warm colour palette, artistic murals, and interior plantings. Architectural elements were developed as a consistent, branded interior experience to communicate the centre’s mission for compassionate care.

Lebel & Bouliane designed and coordinated all aspects of the project including mechanical, electrical, security, furniture and clinic-specific requirements — most notably working with the Radiation Science Research consultant to implement and design fluoroscopic suites to Ministry of Health (MoH) standards.

Technical equipment such as a C-arm machine, procedure room equipment, ultra sound display, autoclaves, laboratory refrigerators, and infusion chairs were incorporated, with much care given to the machinery room layouts to blend them into the space. Commercial grade lead-lined doors and door frames, which met budgetary and MoH standards, were sourced. To meet OHPIP Level 02, the existing heat pumps were upgraded and relocated, and new heat pumps were added – controlled by BAS – to avoid cross-contamination between clinical spaces.

To develop a natural material palette that met OHPIP Level 02 standards, all materials were non-porous, the flooring is finished in zero-VOC single-component epoxy paint, and the interior plantings feature plastic grass, moss and preserved flowers (natural oils and dyes) which do not require water or soil.

Design: Lebel & Bouliane
Design Team: Luc Bouliane, Natasha Lebel, Duane Comins, Dave Holborn, Diana Nigmatullina
M&E: EME Group Inc.
Builder: Plutus Developments Inc.
Photography: Doublespace