Led by CEO Blima Ehrentreu, The Designers Group, an interior design firm with offices in New York, Miami and Toronto, pioneered a fresh approach to urgent-care design, elevating the health-care experience for patients and staff alike.

With an impressive portfolio of over 100 completed health-care projects, TDG leverages its extensive expertise in human-centered design, creating spaces where patients find respite, calm and tranquility. TDG was tasked with reimagining the typical urgent-care experience by a new company whose vision was to establish more than 20 clinics in the vibrant regions of New York and New Jersey.

THE COLOR OF CALM

Ehrentreu’s passion lies in crafting health-care environments that evoke a sense of calm, transforming how patients feel during medical visits. “Our goal was to redefine the urgent-care experience, allowing patients to feel at ease and even look forward to addressing their medical needs,” she explains.

To achieve this, TDG embarked on rigorous research, exploring topics such as environmental psychology and neuroarchitecture. This knowledge allowed the team to understand how elements like lighting, textures and colors can psychologically impact human experiences within a space.

“In TDG’s design process, colors and textures aren't merely aesthetic choices; they play a pivotal role in creating an atmosphere of calm and comfort,” Ehrentreu explains. Each design decision, from layout to color schemes to bespoke headboard designs, aims at fostering a healing ambiance and revolutionizing the perception of urgent care.

Bridging aesthetics with functionality is the essence of TDG’s approach. Based on the scientific studies demonstrating their stress-reducing benefits, the designers strategically incorporated natural wood tones, muted neutrals, ample daylighting and textured accents to create a transformative health-care project that transcends the conventional norms.

By incorporating thoughtful design elements, engaging in rigorous material selection and prioritizing accessibility, the design team has not only met the project requirements but has elevated the typical urgent-care experience. The result is a space that achieves the client’s vision of creating environments that redefine the way patients perceive and experience medical visits.

DESTRESS WITH TECH

Beyond aesthetics, TDG harnessed cutting-edge technologies to further enhance wellness within these spaces. Implementing features like active noise-cancelling and discreet indoor air-quality monitoring systems, they seamlessly fused creativity and functionality to elevate the patient experience to new heights, ensuring a serene and calming atmosphere.

They also incorporated technological advancements into its design process to enhance the built experience. Through TDG Tech-hub, the team prepared virtual reality tours of the urgent-care design, allowing stakeholders to experience the design before construction, reducing costs and ensuring a comprehensive understanding. The tours facilitate precise feedback collection, cutting down on potential issues and streamlining construction.

Beyond cost savings, the technology creates a collaborative environment, strengthening the sense of ownership among stakeholders.

DIVERSE DESIGN

Meeting—and in some areas exceeding—the expectations of ADA compliance, the incorporation of accessible features and thoughtful design elements ensures an inclusive environment within the urgent-care setting. From wheelchair-accessible spaces to strategically positioned signage and tactile indicators, TDG’s layout design ensures that every aspect of the project aligns with the principles of accessibility. Seamlessly integrating these elements, the team aimed not just to meet compliance standards but to foster an environment that prioritizes the comfort and accessibility of every patient, ensuring a welcoming and accommodating space for all.

This dedication to inclusivity underscores TDG’s commitment to reshaping health-care experiences, ensuring that their designs are not just visually striking but functionally accessible and accommodating to diverse physical, mental and emotional needs.

BETTER BRANDING

In addition to the physical design, TDG recognized the crucial link between space and brand identity. With a mission to convert the urgent care brand into a welcoming, calming and inspiring space, distinct from the typical health-care environment often associated with anxiety, offering comprehensive branding services, the team carefully curated custom wallpapers, signage, artwork and facades to converge seamlessly, creating a tranquil yet upscale brand presence.

“We envisioned all company materials and aesthetics to foster emotional connections for patients and staff alike,” Ehrentreu adds. Taking cues from spa aesthetics, they opted for a contemporary and sustainable approach to branding, elevating the concept of care by immersing patients in a sensory journey from waiting room to exam room. This transformation establishes a new benchmark for patient wellbeing reflecting a unique and personalized way to reshape healthcare experiences. This patient-centric approach emphasizes TDG’s focus on enhancing wellbeing through thoughtful and functional design and branding elements.

This project sought to surpass industry benchmarks, showcasing TDG's commitment to pushing the boundaries of conventional healthcare design. The project exemplified the unique design approach, emphasizing innovation, functionality and an understanding of user needs, all aimed at reshaping the possibilities of an urgent care facility.

“We create spaces as transformative as the care itself,” affirms Ehrentreu. With unwavering innovation and a vision centered around human wellbeing, TDG is reshaping how health-care facilities make patients feel, laying the blueprint for the future of building healing environments.