By: Deborah Johnson Wood
When the developers of the $23 million Women's Health Center in downtown Grand Rapids decided to create a comprehensive women's healthcare facility, one of the first things they did was ask female patients what they wanted. As a result, it may be the only healthcare building in town whose design comes directly from recommendations made by women for women.
"We interviewed women patients of the various medical practices to get their input," says Michael Garrett, of Pinnacle Construction Group. Pinnacle is the developer, one of the investors, and construction manager of the project. "They wanted warm wood interiors, colors, and finishes. They even chose the logo."
The women also wanted casual seating areas throughout the building, private rooms where mothers can nurse their babies, wide hallways, and open space.
Garrett says the result is peaceful, cheerful ambience, a two-story entry area featuring an open staircase with glass handrails, wood paneling in geometric patterns, and overstuffed chairs in seating areas.
"It will feel like a spa," Garrett adds.
Most importantly, the design enables the various practices—OB/GYN, healthcare for mature women, physical therapy, a fertility clinic, and others—to work together as a whole.
"We want it to be easy for a woman to come here and have her health needs met," Garrett says.
The idea for the Women's Health Center began five years ago when several doctors noticed that, among the billion dollars of healthcare development in Grand Rapids, there were no plans for a comprehensive women's healthcare facility.
Craig Architects designed the building and parking structure. NAI West Michigan is providing leasing services.
Source: Michael Garrett, Pinnacle Construction
Photograph courtesy of Pinnacle Construction
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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