Healthcare Design - December 2013 - 59

FAMILY SPACES - REMODEL/RENOVATION

MS Center at Swedish: Patient and Family Waiting Area
Seattle, WA
is the living "green wall" that serves as a
unique visual reference, greeting patients
as they step from the elevator, guiding
them to the patient and family waiting
area or one of the two mirroring clinics
on either wing of the Center.
Signage offers bright color contrasts,
and art is big in scale and easy to see.
In addition, materials and finishes were
selected for ease of movement, with
transitions between materials carefully
contrasted and placed to reduce the
potential of trips and falls. Handrails offer
needed support and opportunity for respite. Sliding doors and automatic door

BEFORE

operators improve accessibility.
 MS patients are typically scheduled
for extended visits with many different
care team members. A primary goal of
the new Center was to consolidate previously disparate services to provide a
convenient one-stop shop. A typical visit
to the MS Center can last several hours.
The Patient and Family Waiting Area was
designed as a centralized, comfortable
place for patients and their families to
rest between appointments.
Features include abundant natural
light, floor-to-ceiling windows, and access to an outdoor terrace. The space
was designed so that patients and their
families could open or close operable
curtain systems placed throughout the
space for more or less privacy, breaking
the area down into smaller "family" units
when desired. An educational wellness
center is located adjacent to the waiting area. Displays feature educational
material, research, and news related to

BEFORE

BEFORE
"The clinic has a very relaxing effect
when you walk in, as you are greeted
by a wall of plants."-MS Center
patient
The Pacific Northwest suffers from a
disproportionately high rate of multiple
sclerosis (MS), with Washington experiencing one of the highest incident rates in
the country. To better meet the needs of
this community, Swedish Medical Group
set out to create a world-class MS Center
that would bring physicians, therapists,
and researchers together under one roof
to help people with MS achieve ultimate
wellness. The resulting renovation, a
14,500-square-foot specialty clinic,
opened in Seattle in 2012, to provide the
largest and most comprehensive MS
treatment center in the region.

The design team conducted extensive research on how MS patients
interact with the built environment.
Every major step of the clinical visit
was studied. Friction points were
identified and resolved. A patient
focus group was created to influence
and review design. The team learned
first and foremost that the new space
had to meet the various physical and
emotional needs of people with MS.
Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease that attacks the central
nervous system, often resulting in
impaired vision and mobility. In response to this, the design includes a
special wayfinding program to guide
patients easily and safely throughout
the clinic. A hallmark of this program

MS. Products made especially for MS
patients are featured.
 Turning to nature's power to heal, a
main tenet of evidence-based design,
the new waiting area brings the outdoors in as much as possible. A white,
chiseled-marble wall envelops the lobby,
complementing the adjacent green wall.
The use of floor-length windows, transparent doors, and open patient areas
helps infuse natural light into every area
within the Center.
Architecture & Interior Design and Landscape
Design: Callison; General Contractor: Sabey
Construction; Art: Swedish Medical Center Art
Committee, Swedish Medical Center Foundation;
Carpet: Masland; Paint: Sherwin Williams, Benjamin
Moore; Resilient Base: Roppe; Resilient Sheet
Flooring: Teknoflor; Resin Sheet: Lumicor, 3Form;
Wallcovering: Phillip Jeffries, LTD; Workstations:
Teknion; Furniture: HBF, Carolina, National Office,
Gavco; Plantscape: Interior Foliage; Green Wall:
Tournesol; Photography Credit: © 2012 Callison
LLC / Chris Eden.

Jury Comments
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Providing access to nature indoors, in a highly
stressful environment, supports attention
restoration theory.
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clear. The materials use is beautiful! The quality of
light is such a huge improvement. Lovely!
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Unconventional elements, green wall and soft
curtain dividers, contribute to a calming yet
invigorating environment with a healthy and
hopeful vibe.
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sclerosis, I appreciate the overall layout of
this unit and how it attempts to decrease
travel distances for the patients. And there's a
wonderful feeling of normalcy and openness and
relief that is embedded in the design.
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a deep understanding of the unique needs of
patients with multiple sclerosis. It is apparent
the design team did their research, listened to
the voice of the patient and caregivers, and
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landmark "living green wall" initiates a memorable
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are supportive to the physical and emotional
needs of MS patients.
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Reader comments
t 5IJTJTQVSFMZBOETJNQMZBQBUJFOUDBSFESJWFO
design solution. The design team including
designer, contractor, doctors, hospital, donors,
and most importantly patients and their families,
worked together towards one goal-a relaxing
and comfortable environment promoting the
effectiveness of MS care.
t 4PCSJHIUBOEXFMDPNJOH%PFTUIBUHJWFUIF
feeling of a medical facility? Very relaxed looking.
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space. The space appears to be peaceful and
calming which will contribute to healing and
recovery. The large windows allow so much
light which is much needed for spaces in the
Northwest. An amazing transformation!
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the use of curtains to promote a less institutional
feel.
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Supplement to Healthcare Designt

59
Healthcare Design - December 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - December 2013
