Healthcare Design - May 2023 - 20

could be anxiety, it could be strength and confidence.
So we started to look at not just the body
and the intimacy of the human form but also
hands and how expressive they are, " she says.
Featuring pairs of hands in a variety of positions,
the graphics are designed to reinforce the
intimate nature of care services delivered at the
clinic. Each illustration looks hand drawn but
is printed as full-length wallcoverings to match
the clinic's paint color and create a seamless
look. For example, illustrated hands embracing
a small plant cover a wall near the reception
desk while another graphic of hands holding
each other is featured in the hallway leading to
the exam rooms. " What was special about placing
these in that physical space was it's kind of
like you're holding someone's hand as they walk
through this treatment journey, " Foss says.
Additionally, the hand-drawn elements became
a creative solution to address a code requirement
for the glass-enclosed staff offices.
In lieu of distraction strips on the solid planes
of glass, which are required as a safety element,
the team applied a graphic of a continuous handdrawn
line across the glass surfaces. When the
line graphic reaches a wall, it turns into one of
the large-scale hand drawings.
For clinic signage, space-specific images were
created using the same aesthetic and thin, undulating
line reflected in ISMI's logo identity
and graphics. For example, a hanger denotes
a changing room while the children's waiting
room, named " Room for Joy, " includes the outline
of a small figure with a larger one to express
the idea of a parent and child together.
COLOR STRATEGY
In addition to the logo and graphics, the HOK
teams collaborated on a color palette for the
project. Initially, Dagavic says the interiors
team chose soft, earthy colors, including
tans, greens, and blue sage, to evoke a spa-like
environment that puts patients at ease. The
20
MAY 2023
experience group then expanded on those colors,
including adding a more feminine blush
color to " emphasize the type of care that people
would receive here, " Foss says. The colors
are featured in brand collateral, including
business cards and promotional materials, as
well as throughout the built environment including
the furnishings, casework, and privacy
curtains in the exam rooms.
Color plays a key role in the clinic's wayfinding
strategy, as well, with three colors used in the
flooring to help guide patients throughout the
space. For example, a neutral white color serves
as the overall general color for the flooring, starting
in the reception area. Going down the main
hallway, the flooring changes to a darker gray/
tan color at transition areas, such as the hallway
to the exam rooms, while respite spaces, such as
seating areas along the windows or the decompression
lounge at the end of the corridor, are
marked by blue flooring.
COLLABORATION IS KEY
ISMI opened its doors in January 2022 in Kirkland,
Quebec, Canada. Dr. Rafat Zand says
patients have responded positively to all the
branded touches. " There's a sense of community,
togetherness, and respect, " he says. " People
feel immediately loved when they come here. "
Foss attributes part of that success to the collaboration
of the interiors and experience design
teams to " find moments of connection. "
" When you have a vision [for the physical environment]
and develop the brand as a part of that
process, there is the opportunity to tell a cohesive
story, " she says. " We worked really hard to
ensure that was apparent on this project, that
it all seemed to tell the same story, and I think it
was successful. " 
Anne DiNardo is executive editor of Healthcare
Design. She can be reached at ANNE.DINARDO@
EMERALDX.COM .
ABOVE AND ABOVE, LEFT:
Pictograms in the same
undulating line aesthetic
as ISMI's logo and graphics
were created for clinic
signage, including the
Room for Joy waiting
space, where children can
stay, draw, and play while
their parent or caregiver
receives treatment.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project name: Institute for
Specialized Medicine and
Intervention (ISMI)
Project location: Kirkland,
Quebec, Canada
Project completion date:
April 2022
Owner: Khashayar Rafat Zand
Total building area: 4,100
sq. ft.
Total construction cost:
$1.4 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $365
Architecture: HOK, Imperatori
Design (provided permit and
construction drawings)
Interior design: HOK
General contractor:
Broccolini
Builder: Broccolini
Carpet/flooring: Tarkett/
Johnsonite
Ceiling/wall systems:
Rockfon, Teknion
Fabric/textiles: Maharam
(privacy curtain), CF Stinson,
Architex
Furniture-seating/
casegoods: Lacasse,
DWR, Blu Dot, Teknion, TK
Studio, Allermuir, Keilhauer,
All-seating, Suite 22, HAG
Signage/wayfinding: CMD
Sign, HOK experience design
group (custom graphics)
For an expanded list, visit
HCDmagazine.com. Project
details are provided by the
design team and not vetted by
Healthcare Design.
HCDMAGAZINE.COM
CLAUDE-SIMON LANGLOIS
http://www.HCDmagazine.com http://www.HCDMAGAZINE.COM
Healthcare Design - May 2023

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