One of the firms I had the opportunity to partner with during my senior studio was HKS, specifically their Healthcare Interiors Group, to design a 6000 sq ft. breast center.

Breast cancer affects countless lives. Seemingly no longer in control of one’s own health or future, a single prognosis can easily envelope an individual and their loved ones in an overwhelming sense of helplessness. 

The interior of CHARGE Breast Center is designed to foster just the opposite: bringing back a sense of control in an otherwise uneasy situation. Patients, care givers, and their families have the ability to influence their experience and health as a whole– body, mind, and spirit– in three kinds of spaces uniquely regarded, “take-CHARGE,” “in-CHARGE,” and “re-CHARGE”. 

Simply walking through the front doors into the grand reception area, visitors are choosing to take-CHARGE of their physical health with preventative measures like regular mammograms and exams. However, it’s the modular and transformable furniture in the main reception and sub waiting that allow guests to manipulate their space, public/private seating options, and personalization of their room/stay, that truly enable guests to be in-CHARGE: customizing their surroundings to meet every need. This, along with a connection to nature found in the green wall, ample natural light, and interior garden encourage holistic healing and permit guests to re-CHARGE their spirit. Overall, comfortable amenities and easy way-finding alongside natural patterns and a soothing color palette create an inviting atmosphere ultimately bringing back a feeling of control to the center in more ways than one.

After thorough research and space planning, I created a floorplan in AutoCAD, modeled the space in SketchUp, assembled a color, materials, and furnishings palette, and finally rendered interior views through Shaderlight.  I then combined everything into an informative presentation showcasing my applied research and presented my solution to the firm’s Dallas office.