Salud Medical Center is operated by the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, a non-profit health system with locations throughout Washington and Oregon. This project included renovation of existing east and west buildings and the addition of one-story linking structure.
Project Goals included:
• Creating a single facility that would function effortlessly and promote staff efficiency.
• Creating a comfortable, inviting environment to accommodate a broad clientele of varied economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Developing a central, visible, and inviting entrance.
The main entrance is located in the new structure and approached through an arched colonnade flanked by a courtyard and a walled garden. Landscaping for the site was developed to compliment the building and enhance the natural wooded setting.
The expanded clinic includes 30 exam rooms, a minor procedure room, an ultrasound room, and a 9-patient dental operatory. Space is provided for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, prenatal services, laboratory, administration, behavioral health services, and pharmacy.
The renovation was completed in phases, allowing the medical center to operate throughout construction. The existing medical center building was renovated to accommodate two clinic pods, the laboratory, and a medical records department. The Child Services Building, previously vacant, was renovated to accommodate the dental clinic and staff lounge facilities.
The new central structure between the existing buildings accommodates the lobby, waiting, and reception areas for both medical and dental clinics, and the pharmacy. The lobby and waiting areas are welcoming and spacious with views north and south through glazed curtain walls taking full advantage of the natural landscape.
Waiting areas are divided by clinical pods to provide a more intimate scale. They are defined by partial-height walls to allow for continual cognizance of the whole space for easy orientation.
Natural and sustainable products were selected to celebrate health and wellness and a natural color palette was selected to harmonize with nature.