This 5,225-square-foot renovation on the third floor of the Saint Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma consolidates what had previously been five separate cardiology clinics—accumulated and reconfigured over the life of an 80s-era building—into a single, unified cardiology hub. By replacing a fragmented collection of spaces with one cohesive environment, the design creates a clear entry, streamlined wayfinding, and a one-stop-shop model of care for patients across multiple cardiology subspecialties. 

The design reflects close collaboration with clinical staff and a medical equipment planning team to optimize patient and provider flow. Working sessions with the client team evaluated each piece of equipment by size, location, and height to ensure the layout supported efficient movement from the workstation to the patient room to the front desk without unnecessary backtracking. Strategic adjustments—including repositioning exam rooms and bathrooms—improved circulation and increased access to natural light. As one of the first fully renovated CommonSpirit clinics in Washington state, the project met the health system’s updated design standards, and the team’s constructability feedback refined those standards for future projects. 

The building’s direct connection to the adjacent hospital was a central design consideration, with shared corridor upgrades and improved wayfinding reinforcing the clinic’s role as an extension of inpatient cardiac services. Because construction took place within an active medical building with continuous patient and gurney traffic, careful phasing was required throughout. The team coordinated infection control and dust mitigation protocols to protect patients moving through shared elevator and corridor spaces, and developed phasing plans to maintain uninterrupted skybridge access throughout construction. A Matterport scan was completed at the outset in lieu of official record drawings, and unknown conditions uncovered during demolition required real-time coordination with the city to keep the project on schedule. The full renovation—including a new sprinkler system and complete interior upgrades—was completed within a one-year timeline.