Healthcare Design - April 2022 - 12

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APRIL 2022
OWARD BROWN HEALTH'S Broadway Youth Center
(BYC) has served Chicago's LGBTQ+ community
for nearly two decades. " The primary focus is supporting
LGBTQ+ young people [ages 12 to 24] in accessing
healthcare and a full scope of resources, "
says Frankie Reynolds, director of business development,
construction, and real estate at Howard
Brown Health, a federally qualified health center operating
11 clinics in the Chicago area.
The center has occupied a variety of buildings throughout its history,
most recently renting space in Chicago's Lakeside neighborhood for programming
that includes everything from full-service medical and reproductive
healthcare to social services, as well as a drop-in center to fill basic
needs such as hot meals, showers, and laundry. " That's a lot of different services
to have in one space, especially when that space is only 4,000 square
feet, " Reynolds says. So when the center's lease was ending,
the organization decided to launch a capital campaign
to raise funds to build a facility custom designed for it. The
five-story, 20,000-square-foot building would house all
of BYC's services under one roof, with space for increased
medical care and expanded offerings such as a " store " for
donated clothing and a commercial kitchen to provide
meals and culinary programs. " We set out to build a [center]
that could serve young people in a more robust way and also
have a permanent home for BYC, " Reynolds says.
Kicking off the project in fall 2019, Wheeler Kearns Architects
(Chicago) was tasked with helping BYC take its
operations, which had been organized within a one-story
setting, and divide them among its new five floors. " Early
on, we decided that the drop-in space for the young people
was going to be on the upper two floors, so they have the best
views and could be secure and have their own space, " says
Noah Luken, project architect at Wheeler Kearns Architects.
Then, to maximize access to clinical services, the exam
rooms and reception area are located on the first and second
floors, while the third floor is devoted entirely to staff, with
conference and meeting rooms, a break area, and openoffice
workstations that are convenient to both the clinic
ABOVE: Spaces for
the drop-in center
on the upper floors
feature lockers and
comfortable furnishings to
accommodate longer visit
times for young people
seeking services. BELOW:
Access to daylight was
prioritized throughout the
facility, including windows
in all patient-facing
spaces, with triple-pane
glass used on the south
and east sides of the
building to cut down on
noise from the city.
spaces and the day programs. " A lot of our staff
are dealing with pretty intense work on a daily
basis, " Reynolds says. " Having that space where
they can separate from it and take a short break
can be restorative and also helps with burnout. "
In addition to better supporting staff, the facility
houses details big and small that respond to
the emotional and social needs of its clientele,
some of whom don't have a lot of resources or
history of accessing healthcare. " We used light,
friendly, colorful materials that didn't feel like
a typical healthcare setting or feel childish, "
Luken says. " Having a youthful exuberance was
important for us. " For example, the lobby is designed
to resemble a café with bright yellow
walls and local artwork. Additionally, a dance
and movement space on the fifth floor holds
classes as well as group meetings. " Having those
spaces where young people can experience joy
makes it a space where people want to return,
continue to access services, and build relationships
with staff, " Reynolds says.-Anne DiNardo,
executive editor
HCDMAGAZINE.COM
KENDALL MCCAUGHERTY, COURTESY OF WHEELER KEARNS ARCHITECTS
http://www.HCDMAGAZINE.COM
Healthcare Design - April 2022

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