CONTEXT
Founded in 1888, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center provides care to approximately 4,000 inpatients and handles 71,000 outpatient visits per year. Although achieving extraordinary outcomes, hospital operations and the patient experience were hampered by outdated infrastructure and long travel between therapy areas. Slated for completion in 2020, the massive $418 million project will create a cohesive campus through a serious of phased expansions, renovations, site improvements, and new construction.
PROGRAM / SCOPE
The 12,000-square-foot Knabe Wellness Center and Plaza, marks the first completed project of the five year construction plan. Despite its relatively small footprint on the 212 acre campus, the Wellness Center is an integral part of the complex. Offering physical therapy, aquatic therapy, and advanced rehabilitative technologies specifically tailored for patients coping with disabilities such as spinal cord injuries and strokes, the center also functions as a “community gym” encouraging wellness for the local residents.
Taking advantage of the mild Southern California climate, daylight floods into the building through large windows supporting the open campus concept. Connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces, the project allows patients to learn to adapt to the external conditions they will face when they leave the hospital by literally opening their doors to the landscape.
SOLUTIONS/DESIGN
THE WEAVING METAPHOR AND REHABILITATION: Dating back to site’s early incarnation as the “Los Angeles County Farm”, textile weaving was incorporated into the patients’ Occupational Therapy regimen. As a nod to this history, our design begins to take the form of woven textures and layering of materials. From the stitching motion of the landscape; to the woven patchwork of the canopy facade; and the meandering, looping pathways of the wellness garden.
A CONNECTION BASED ON DEEP ROOTS: A perforated scrim on the building’s façade draws its inspiration the prolific orange trees imported by Downey’s founders in the mid-1800’s. The scrim system not only physically weaves the new facility with the existing, but also controls daylight, reducing lighting energy demands and provides a protected outside pathway for pedestrians. The shadow impressions casted on interior surfaces creates echoes of the historic orange groves and connects the users to the outside.
AN ENVIRONMENT OF HOPE: The community of Rancho Los Amigos transcends the typical label of “patients and caregivers” to form a truly unique culture. The overall optimistic and celebratory approach to the project epitomizes the hopeful character of Rancho Los Amigos. Locating the Wellness Center as a faceted jewel on the center elliptical plaza emphasizes the role that patients and community play in recovery. Large windows open to the plaza, home to a variety of annual events. The bright and joyful palette blends beautifully with intricate fabrics and public art pieces, creating interest in what could be a utilitarian space.
By addressing the needs of the county, staff, users, visitors, and community, the design plays a pivotal role in creating a new heart to the campus and weaves the history of Rancho Los Amigos with the needs of a high performance healing environment. |
