Healthcare Design - December 2016 - 47

REMODEL/RENOVATION

S TA FF SPA CE S

Kaiser Permanente Fontana
Medical Center Basement
Neurosurgery/Anesthesia
Clinic Remodel
Fontana, Calif.
S UBMITTED BY H M C A R C H I T E C T S * O N T A R I O , C A L I F.

DESIGN TEAM:

BEFORE

AT THE KAISER Permanente

Fontana Medical
Center, the medical records department was located in the basement, and as hardcopy medical
records were updated to digital, this basement
space gradually fell into disuse. Kaiser Permanente decided to completely renovate the basement and move in its Neurosurgery/Anesthesia
Clinic.
A windowless environment lit with fluorescent lighting is the last place
that providers and staff want to work in all day-and it's not ideal for members either. However, for the Neurosurgery/Anesthesia Clinic Remodel, we
utilized Kaiser Permanente's Total Health Environment (THE) Toolkit to
design and create a nature-inspired, light-filled environment that supports
Kaiser Permanente's Total Health brand and creates opportunities for colJU RY CO MME NT S:
*
*
*
*
*

Clean lines and great lighting design have attained the design goals.
Good application of the Kaiser Total Health Environment Toolkit.
Doctor's office and lounge area is well done; transom windows with tree canopy is effective.
LED lights and colors really helps mask that this was once a cave-like basement.
Great approach and innovative furniture solutions in teaming areas.

Kaiser Permanente
(owner); HMC
Architects
(architect/interior
designer); Kaiser
Permanente Capital Projects
Facilities
Construction
(general
contractor); Ron
Coffey, project
superintendent;
Nick Ramirez,
construction
manager; Beverly
Miranda, project
manager; Jim
Herrington,
team manager;
Lighting Design
Alliance (lighting
consultant) ; EOS
Light Panel Systems
(lighting vendor);
Infrastructure
Factor Consulting
(MEP engineer);
Saiful Bouquet
(structural
engineer);
Steelcase (furniture
manufacturer).
COST PER
SQUARE FOOT:

Not Available
PHOTOS (AFTER):

Chris Grant

laboration amongst
providers, staff, and
members. But withBEFORE
out windows and natural light, the design
team had to devise alternative methods to bring
the feeling of those elements into the basement.
The design team focused on LED lighting solutions to brighten up the dark basement. Colorchanging LEDs in the front porch waiting area
and pre-op/post-op rooms slowly cycle through
soothing colors, creating a calming effect that
also helps break up the monotony of a windowless space. In the post-op room, members can
control their own lighting colors, or let the nurses choose their color based on their status.
The design team worked closely with the LED
lighting company to create custom LED panels
that combine lights with nature photography.
The public square-inspired front porch waiting
area features cloud graphics that mimic the sky,
and LED clerestories at the providers' offices appear to open up to a forest canopy.
The front porch waiting area isn't your typical back-to-back chairs in a row-the seating is
designed to cater to different waiting preferences while still accommodating up to 48 members at once. All seating and standing areas are
equipped with power outlets so members can
charge their phones or tablets while they wait.
The providers' offices are efficiently sized to
allow for the programming of the provider collaboration area. This collaboration area features
comfortable seating, a kitchenette, and encourages conversation.
The biggest influence on the design concept
was undoubtedly the challenge of creating a
light-filled, nature-inspired space in a windowless basement. Paint colors, carpet, countertop
materials, and furniture choices-all these components were carefully curated from the THE
Toolkit to bring in elements of light and nature
for members, providers, and staff. Maple and
walnut wood finishes feel natural next to cool
light blue and white walls. Wood flooring and
carpet tiles soften the waiting area, and together
with versatile furniture and color-changing LED
clouds, members and staff now experience a Kaiser Permanente branded environment that falls
in line with their expectations of what a Kaiser
Permanente environment should feel like-full
of natural light, comfortable seating, collaboration areas, and with connections to nature.

DECEMBER 2016

Healthcare Design - December 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - December 2016