Judges' Comments

• N/A

Project Data:

Completion Date:     2/1/2017

Square Footage:      3380

Building Use:           Physical Therapy Clinic

Location:                 San Francisco, California

Project Description:

The UCSF Physical Therapy department was growing rapidly, and in order to better serve this growing patient population the department opened a new clinic near their Mt. Zion campus. The 3,380 square-foot retail space was renovated to include a gym, treatment rooms, consult space, office, reception and waiting area.
The design team began a strategic research effort to understand the operational needs of this new physical therapy clinic. This extensive process included identifying stakeholder values, visioning sessions, user journey mapping for patients/caregivers/staff, site observations, one-on-one interviews with patients & staff, analysis of patient surveys and feedback forms, utilization tracking to understand treatment room usage patterns, and activity analysis of the waiting area. Ultimately, the team generated a series of design guidelines that supported the two overarching project goals: advancing the UCSF Physical Therapy practice, and supporting great user experiences.
One design guideline focused on providing spaces to support individual needs for interaction, respite and privacy; the resulting spatial reaction was the addition of an interview room to the program. This provided a dedicated location for staff to conduct patient consultations involving sensitive medical information, which had previously been conducted in the open gym space with other people nearby. Another design guideline focused on creating a flow that was unobstructed and intuitive, where patients did not feel rushed and staff did not appear to be stressed. To accomplish this, the design team added a second hallway between the waiting area and gym. This created a circulation loop, separating the ‘in’ and ‘out’ traffic and thereby reducing obstacles for patients with mobility issues. This also created a separate check-out station at the reception desk, where the physical therapist could drop off the patient before ducking into the staff zone. This staff zone was designed to create a high-functioning workplace by accommodating a variety of work settings, based on the needs of the users. This included a communal charting area to support the collaborative team atmosphere amongst staff, as well as a focus room to provide a quiet area, free of distractions.
The interior design concept includes a signature lighting element that activates the waiting area and energizes patients as they wait. The flooring pattern mirrors the curve of light fixtures on the ceiling, serving as clear wayfinding into the gym. Contrasting color markers are built into the floor as framework for specific rehabilitation exercises. For example, evenly spaced dots serve as distance markers, while a star pattern helps with leg extension exercises. An overhead harness system curves through the gym space, safely supporting patients during gait training and reducing the risk of staff injury. A wall graphic adorns the south wall of the gym, providing a splash of bright color and a focal point within the large open space. This graphic also speaks to the strength and courage displayed by each patient during their treatment session, both symbolizing and celebrating their heroic efforts.

C.O.T.E. | Committee on the Environment

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