Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network’s reimagines patient and staff experiences
Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network consolidates several existing medical clinics and administrative teams into a cohesive, focused space. The facility includes a wide range of functions, from treatment rooms and consultation spaces to staff collaboration areas, wellness rooms, and a café. The network's vision was to create a health environment that not only met clinical standards but redefined patients' and staff experience through accessibility, dignity, and care.
Through design grounded in trauma-informed and human-centered principles, we created intuitive spatial flow throughout the facility. We focused on soft, calming finishes and community-focused amenities to establish an accessible and inclusive environment. The space is barrier-free and universally navigable, ensuring ease of use for all patients, staff, and visitors regardless of ability or background.
Jamie Falkner
Project Start Date: October 2023
Project Completion Date: January 2025
Square Footage: + / - 25,000 sq ft
The Challenge
Bringing Teams Together: Unifying multiple independent clinics, each with their own workflows, cultures, and expectations, into a shared environment required extensive listening, alignment, and detailed planning to ensure the space could truly support everyone.
Balancing Warmth with Clinical Needs: The client wanted the space to feel calm and welcoming, while still performing clinically. Finding the right finishes, detailing strategies, and layout solutions to meet both emotional and operational needs was a key part of the process.
Designing Through Operational Change: This project wasn't just about space; it was also about helping teams shift how they deliver care. We had to anticipate how the space could support those changes and build trust throughout the process.
Making Big Impact with a Tight Budget: Like most public projects, budget was a constraint. We had to be intentional, investing in high-impact areas, getting creative with cost-effective materials, and finding ways to do more with less.
The Solution
We hosted multiple stakeholder engagement sessions early on to understand each clinic’s priorities and operational needs. By mapping workflows and layering adjacencies that respected team boundaries while encouraging collaboration, we created zones that felt familiar but connected. Shared workspaces and flexible touchdown areas supported both integration and autonomy.
We leaned into soft, approachable materials that still met performance criteria. We used durable LVT with a residential feel, and healthcare-grade millwork that looked custom. Natural light, muted colours, and curved forms brought a sense of calm without compromising functionality.
We used the design process as a tool to guide change. On-stage off-stage circulation helped staff visualize new workflows, and test-fit plans gave teams a chance to walk through future scenarios. Change was not an afterthought. It was integrated into every design decision from zoning to signage strategy.
We prioritized high-touch areas like reception, waiting, and shared staff zones, and simplified detailing where possible to free up resources. Cost-effective materials were used strategically, and shared support spaces between teams reduced duplication. The goal was always to maximize value without sacrificing the user experience.
The Human-Centred Lens
Residential Elements: Café-style staff kitchen and wellness rooms inspired by residential design to promote comfort, routine, and decompression.
Warm Materials: Soft greens, wood tones, and matte finishes to reduce clinical feel and create emotional ease.
Layered Lighting: We implemented a lighting strategy similar to hospitality environments, using pendants and warm light to create inviting, human-scaled spaces.
Comfort-Focused Seating: Integrated soft seating and breakout areas that feel more like living rooms than waiting rooms, encouraging relaxation and connection.
Intuitive Navigation: Wayfinding and signage designed with clarity and tone in mind, similar to boutique hotels or wellness spaces, reducing cognitive load and enhancing the user experience.
Key Features
On-Stage Off-Stage Circulation Planning:
Separate circulation paths for patients and staff reduce stress and streamline operational flow. This layout was key to supporting interdisciplinary care while maintaining a human-centered approach.
Integrated Play Zone
The waiting area includes a small, integrated play nook that subtly supports families without dominating the space. It offers a calming, contained area for kids and signals inclusivity without feeling overly "themed."
Prioritizing Spacious Circulation Within a Tight Footprint
Despite a highly programmed floorplate and limited square footage, wide corridors and generous circulation paths were prioritized to support accessibility, ease of movement, and patient dignity. Clear sightlines, natural light, and oversized graphic wayfinding elements help reduce stress and improve navigation, especially for first-time visitors and those with mobility or cognitive challenges. This approach reinforces the clinic’s trauma-informed and inclusive design goals without compromising efficiency.
Lighting and Acoustics Designed for Flexibility and Comfort
The space was designed to support a wide range of users, needs, and energy levels — from focused clinical work to quiet decompression. A layered lighting strategy, including recessed fixtures, pendants, and integrated acoustic luminaires, creates warm, inviting zones while avoiding glare or overstimulation. Acoustic treatments were integrated throughout to manage sound levels and support a calm, focused environment. Together, these elements make the space feel intuitive, adaptable, and inclusive for patients, families, and care teams alike.
Results
Project Credits
Engineers: Electrical – Tianna Buck, Mechanical – Cameron Ball
Contractors: Prime Projects LTD: Project manager – Daniel Laur and Riley Boivin
Furniture: Contemporary Office Interiors (COI)
Landlord: Western Securities
Photographer: Christina Yao
Project Lead: Jenny Hassell
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