Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

 

Kinwell 224 Westlake

Embracing the Past to Create a Modern Clinic with a Mission

Providing easy, accessible healthcare to individuals in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood as a walk-in clinic, Kinwell 224 Westlake raises the bar for how medical spaces address the needs of patients while placing comfort and privacy at the forefront of wellness-centered design. Kinwell 224 Westlake occupies a space with a deep history in the South Lake Union neighborhood. Built in 1926, the 90-year-old heavy timber building balances the new with the old, seamlessly blending into the surrounding area. The overall look and feel of Kinwell 224 Westlake are heavily influenced by the natural elements of the Pacific Northwest and the maritime aesthetics of Ballard and Lake Union, which are located just up the road from the clinic’s site. Themes of water and nautical décor such as oars and coastal photography adorn the clinic’s walls, reflecting the local community. While much of Kinwell 224 Westlake is inspired by local connections, other aspects of the building look inward, towards its own past for design direction. Many of the previous features from the site’s past - like the double-height ceilings - were retained in the name of sustainability, rather than covered up, making the space feel more spacious and open. To ensure that Kinwell 224 Westlake meets the requirements of both the patients and the medical professionals who occupy the clinic day-to-day, the patterns and habits of these end-users were observed and taken into consideration during the design process, so that the design of the office would be specifically tailored to the building’s layout and occupant’s needs while still adhering to Kinwell’s brand standards. In this way, Kinwell 224 Westlake considers practicality as well as comfort, accommodating the needs of all who enter through its doors.

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Seattle, Washington
  • 2 stories
  • 5,835 sq. ft.
  • Completed in 2022
PROGRAM

Wellness

PROJECT CONTACT

Architecture: Ted Udhus

healthcare@ankrommoisan.com


Design Story

A Comfortable and Confidential Clinic

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

Architecture Photo of Kinwell 224 Westlake

© Aaron Locke

At the leading edge of walk-in healthcare clinic design, Kinwell 224 Westlake reimagines how people will feel when entering a medical space. Intended to feel more like a hospitality space than a clinical one, Kinwell makes a patient's experience of a walk-in medical appointment as simple and as comfortable as possible. The waiting rooms of their 224 Westlake location are designed with atmosphere, comfort, and privacy in mind. A wide variety of seating options grants patients the freedom and choice to choose how they wait, while screening elements promote discretion and privacy as they check in to their appointments. A glass wall was installed between the waiting areas and exam rooms to act as a privacy-boosting sound barrier, as well as to reduce noise from the streets outside. Exposed wood and plants bring warmth and comfort into the space, alleviating the typical stress of medical appointments and providing Kinwell 224 Westlake’s waiting and exam rooms with an inviting, residential feel. This personable design direction makes the overall experience of a check-up at Kinwell 224 Westlake more human and reminiscent of a casual conversation held around a kitchen table. Elements retained from the space’s previous tenants, such as the double-height ceilings, exposed concrete, beams and columns — emphasized by uplighting — establish the public waiting room as an open, beautiful area for both in-person appointments and digital, remote meetings. The first-floor elements are designed as ‘room-in-rooms,’ which are smaller, roofed spaces within the larger exposed-ceiling room. These private exam rooms provide medical professionals and patients with the privacy and confidentiality required for any type of exam or appointment. The interiors of these private exam rooms are wrapped in a patterned wall covering that is based on Kinwell’s logo. Leaning into their brand standards, the motif is found throughout the building, repeated in various design elements, such as the plaque found behind the reception desk.

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