| Seven miles outside of Portland, Oregon is Beaverton–a town with 30 hiking trails and 100 parks connected by over 25 miles of bike paths. The young, tech-savvy, nature-loving residents of this quintessential Oregon city were the perfect demographic for Kaiser Permanente’s, RAD (re-imagining ambulatory design) concept. The RAD concept aims to create the highest level of consistency in design, standardize the member experience, and transform traditional medical office buildings into member-centric and design-driven health hubs.
When we set out to design Kaiser Permanente’s Beaverton Health Hub, we had to consider the original 50-year-old medical office The new building was set to be constructed right next to the original, which could not be demolished until new construction was complete. Despite the tight site plan, it was important for the design team to make sure the new building did not look like an afterthought but rather an intentional and functional space in the best location. The result is a new $40,874,536, three-story, 90,275 square-foot Health Hub, home to 36 physician, a dental office, and an urgent care facility.
To modernize the building, we designed space for both digital and face-to-face check-in, a wide-open atrium with a cantilevered grand staircase. The stair itself wraps an intricate and colorful art installation that encourages visitors to explore as they ascend the upper levels. The original medical office lacked both connections to its surrounding environment and spaces for community engagement. So, we engaged a nearby bike path that links multiple parks in the area. Because the building’s main entrance faces inwards towards the garden area, we designed distinct attributes to better engage the community. By providing a portal element towards the corner of the building, we created a strong pedestrian passage. Also, we included a “back” entrance that serves as our main, street-level canopy entry. Within the outdoor community space, there is an on-site juice bar, learning garden, and space for a farmer’s market to welcome bikers to stop in before continuing their outing. By designing with intention and incorporating the popular bike path, the entrance acts as a portal from the outdoor trail to an inviting, light-filled atrium, to welcome the community in, whether they are a Kaiser Permanente member or not.
Considering the cold weather of the region, site and building elements were strategically placed to reduce cold winds and increase comfort. The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems were integrated with the architectural design and used technology to improve the member-care experience enhance the building’s efficiency and effectiveness. The systems were an integral component of the project’s goal to achieve LEED Gold certification. The new, modern health hub welcomes members, blends seamlessly into the Beaverton community, and redefines Kaiser Permanente’s medical offices in Oregon.
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