The Northern California Fertility Medical Center (NCFMC) is a 19,900 SF tenant improvement in a two-story building located in Sacramento. NCFMC was established in 1992 and is staffed by four board-certified infertility specialists and a board-certified urologist using advanced methods and technology in their field. The building’s first floor was designed to include a surgery center and medical office building clinic, while the second floor was designed for general office space for doctors and staff.
CHALLENGES + SOLUTIONS
NCFMC stressed during the design development phase that they wanted the interiors of the facility to feel fresh and calming like that of a spa retreat. During our initial exploration and conversations, our client revealed that their patients’ nerves tend to be on edge as they are navigating the fertility process. With that insight in mind, we decided to create an interior environment that makes them feel comfortable and assures them that they are in good hands.
We sprinkled blues and copper tones throughout the facility using bold patterns as aesthetic pops. Signage and wayfinding are also a challenging feature in healthcare, and we worked closely with our friends at Weidner to develop a signage package that emphasized the interior design. Some signs were designed to look like soothing, watercolor paintings, while other signs were fabricated as oversized numbers to not only identify rooms but add in a little playfulness to the space. We also collaborated with Weidner on the art package. Not only do the images play on the interior finishes, but they add a contemporary twist.
The space plan was one of the most challenging features of the design. The first floor had many components in the program, including a lobby and waiting area, surgery center, multiple patient exam rooms, nurses’ stations, IVF center, and office spaces. We not only had to plan for the employees working there day-to-day, but we also had to plan for the patients that would be moving throughout the space. It was challenging to create a space plan that found that balance. We settled on a zoned approach where patients mostly have access to one side of the building and front-of-house amenities, and staff have easy access to additional back of house facilities where they can transit between patient rooms safely and efficiently.
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The second floor of the space has a small waiting area for patients and private offices for doctors and nurses, as well as open office space. It includes an employee break room and a large conference room.
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THE RESULT
The space can be described as vibrant, playful, calming, and inviting. From small details in materials to thoughtful layout of the front of house flow, the design is an efficient use of space that translates into a seamless experience for patients and the providers who work there.
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Williams + Paddon Team:
Jack Paddon, AIA, LEED AP – Principal
Scott Paddon, Associate AIA – Project Manager
Carlton Arnold – Job Captain
Lauren Wagner, CID – Interior Designer
Design-Build Team:
Contractor: Sierra View General Contractor
Mechanical: Ace Heating and Cooling
Electrical: Ireland Electric
Plumbing: Matterhorn Plumbing
Consultants:
Civil: BFK Engineers
Structural: Miyamoto International, Inc