Bellevue, Washington

Outpatient multi-specialty clinic and surgery center

15 clinical specialties

38 exam rooms, 4 operating rooms and 14 private recovery rooms

Includes imaging, lab, sports medicine gym, cafe and urgent care

80,000 sq. ft

Completed in 2010

Integrated project delivery

Utilized lean CPI process

LEED Gold

Work done while at NBBJ

Project role: Interior Designer

Photography by: Benjamin Benschneider

The design team redefined operational efficiency and layout in healthcare with the Seattle Children’s Bellevue Clinic and Surgery Center, a trailblazing medical facility. By applying the Lean methodology of Continuous Performance Improvement (CPI) to healthcare, the project set a new standard for collaboration and innovation. More than 50 clinical users actively participated in the design process, focusing on standardization, flexibility, and operational efficiency.

To refine the design, the team constructed a full-scale, 8,000-square-foot mock-up in an empty office building. This space allowed for testing various workflows, scenarios, and layouts. Through multiple iterations, the design reduced walking distances and wait times by grouping similar facilities and creating dual-purpose rooms. A significant innovation was the shift from single to double-loaded exam rooms, which improved the experience for both patients and staff. This layout separated "on-stage" areas, where patients interact in a calm, distraction-free environment, from "off-stage" areas, where staff operate more efficiently behind the scenes.

In the surgery center, the team positioned induction rooms directly next to operating rooms, enabling families to stay with patients until just before surgery. This proximity allowed operating rooms to be prepped simultaneously, reducing costs and increasing throughput.

The project introduced one of the first Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) contracts in the U.S., where the client, architect, and contractors shared both risks and rewards. This collaborative approach facilitated early coordination and real-time cost evaluations of design iterations. As a result, the team eliminated 30,000 square feet from the design and saved $30 million.

The interior design embraced Seattle Children’s new brand standards, creating a vibrant and engaging environment. The team applied a cheerful and intentional color palette to support wayfinding, assigning unique colors to each corridor. Collaborating with an artist, they developed environmental graphics that highlighted the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest, giving each corridor a distinct nature-inspired theme. By layering color, graphics, and signage, the design provided clear wayfinding cues and prepared the facility for future self-rooming opportunities.

Throughout the building, child-centric and whimsical design details offered elements of discovery, comfort, and positive distraction. These features, viewed from a child’s perspective, created a welcoming and reassuring experience for young patients and their families, seamlessly blending functionality with creativity.

American Institute of Architects/ Academy of Architecture for Health, Healthcare Design Award, 2011

IIDA Pacific Chapter InAward, Design in Healthcare and People’s Choice Award, 2010

Interior Design Magazine Best of the year, Healthcare Nominee, 2010

AIA Seattle Chapter, Merit Award, 2010

American Institute of Architects, BM Awards - Delivery Process Innovation, 2011

Modern Healthcare Awards Honorable Mention, 2011