IMPARTING A SENSE OF HUMAN SCALE, WARMTH AND
LOCAL FRIENDLINESS TO AN OTHERWISE VERY LARGE,
IMPERSONAL SPACE
Repurposing. Instead of developing a new building, Kaiser
Permanente repurposed an abandoned large tilt-up concrete
“boxed” retail space for a new medical business and call center.
One main goal was to create distinct identities for each of the
17 departments encompassing the building, while maintaining
a consistent design and image that supports the client’s
national brand. Another goal was to create an atmosphere that
speaks to a younger work force but also respects a sense of
professionalism. The project transformed the existing expansive
warehouse building into a unique and striking service center.
Thriving employees. Call centers can be a source of high stress
for staff, so a design concept was created that would help staff
find a personal sense of place, identity and belonging as it relates
to their daily surroundings. The concept imagines the facility as
a metaphorical village made up of its own internal “streets” that
connect the numerous department “neighborhoods”, “parks” and
“community centers”. To further identify the departmental entry
zones, uniquely designed and richly colored angular architectural
facades were used to create an identifying space and provide
the staff with a human scale in an otherwise expansive facility.
The conference area continues the design vision and becomes
the community center shared by all of the “neighborhoods” while
coffee and food areas become places where decorative elements
are intensified in a restaurant like atmosphere.
Program. (3) call centers, training center, (3) employee lounges,
coffee bar, conference center, business services: care/geriatric,
preventative medicine, patient support, patient business,
pharmacy administration, health education, recruitment, medical
administrative