Guided by the historical meaning of “Commonwealth,” a word grounded in community, public welfare, and shared responsibility, the vision for the clinic took shape.
Commonwealth Geriatrics would not be just a medical facility, but a place where older adults experienced dignity, connection, and clarity in every detail.
The story of Commonwealth Geriatrics began with a simple but urgent question: What would healthcare look like if older adults felt truly understood, respected, and cared for the moment they stepped inside?
Research
As the project unfolded, the principles of evidence-based design became a compass. Research on acoustics shaped quieter, more comforting waiting areas. Studies on healing environments informed the warm, natural color palette and the strategic use of daylight. Insights into aging bodies influenced lighting levels, furniture ergonomics, and circulation paths wide enough for independence rather than obstacles. Air quality, thermal comfort, and sound control stopped being background considerations and instead became essential tools for creating a space that supported both physical health and emotional well-being.
Design Plan
With these concepts in mind, the clinic was planned with a clear, intuitive layout: exam rooms placed at the center for smooth navigation, staff spaces positioned for privacy and efficiency, and broad hallways designed for ease and dignity. The Patient Education Room emerged as the heart of the project, a place where families and providers could gather in a warm, collaborative setting, reshaping conversations that typically happen in sterile exam rooms.
Design
Each piece of the design, rendered floor plans, lighting strategies, construction documents, circulation diagrams, precedent analysis, and code-driven decisions, became part
of a larger narrative about what healthcare for older adults could be. The final presentation told the story of a clinic rooted in compassion, shaped by research, and crafted with intention.
