Kristen Juneau Health + Wellness

Elevation - Northwest

The Juneau Health + Wellness Center is a large facility meant to encapsulate healthcare and self improvement into one area. There are eight wings of offices and medical providers to supply Juneau and the surrounding area’s citizens with equal access to a multitude of healthcare services. Medical, dental, administration, accounting, behavioral health, education and vocational and dietary health services and a wellness center each have their own wing in the complex.

Elevation - East - Exterior

Drawing from the area’s history and native people, the Tlingit Indian culture provided ample historical precedent and inspiration for the building design and the interior aesthetic. Using their stylized art, the windows and roof lines mimic that of an abstracted fish and flying bird, two important animals in the Tlingit culture.

A101 - Overall Floor Plan - Level 1

The history of Juneau and southeastern Alaska belongs to the Tlingit and Haida Natives. The Tlingit and Haida Natives have a specific type of culture that is expressed in many visual ways, including that of the totem pole. Their artistic style is very abstract and stylized. In Tlingit culture specifically, the two animals most revered are the Eagle and the Raven. These two birds are used to teach virtues throughout Tlingit culture and explain the reasons behind the actions of men. This historical storytelling element became the inspiration for the floor plan design and how the building looks from the air. There are two identical plans in abstract shapes of a bird in flight, each pointing away from each other.

A102 - Overall Floor Plan - Level 2

These two buildings represent the Eagle and the Raven, drawing from the history of Tlingit myths and storytelling culture. These two components bring balance to the design and the overall concept. Being that this health and wellness center would be built along the coast, the initial inspiration for the architecture of this center was taken from none other than birds - specifically seabirds, but the abstract idea of a beating wing is seen along the roofline at any angle.

A103 - Building A - Level 1

From the front and back of each building especially, it appears as though a large, abstracted bird is taking off in front of your eyes, similar to how the Eagle and the Raven appeared to the Tlingit Natives in their mythological tales.

A104 - Building A - Level 2

To combat the heavy snow load, a tremendous amount of structural columns both on the interior and exterior of the building have been implemented to support the entire structure in the event of snowfall and its accumulation.

A105 - Building B - Level 1

The Juneau Health + Wellness center is an equal opportunity establishment for customers and employees alike. This means that no employee or customer will be turned away on the basis of gender, skin color, age, economic status or religion.

A105 - Building B - Level 2

Having access to the complete package of health and wellness is an important aspect of building healthy communities. Healthcare, although not a guarantee, should be provided through the goodness of others and administered to those in need regardless of accessory factors. Providing healthcare to the public lays a foundation for personal dignity in each individual.

South Exterior

The combination of rhythm and repetition is utilized in the roof lines and the jagged exterior of the building shell itself. This connects back to the abstractions of wildlife and the Tlingit spruce root basket patterns. Rhythm and repetition are important in healthcare because they are aesthetically pleasing and create a sense of inner balance. The Juneau Health + Wellness center’s goal is to become a place that inspires personal inner balance, which in turn influences outer balance in a person’s life.

Southeast Exterior

West Exterior

The principle of movement holds a significant place in the overall theme of the architecture and purpose of the Juneau Health + Wellness center. Watching a bird take flight can be an inspirational or spiritual experience, and likening human transformation to flight is a concept that has been used for a long time. This case is no different. Human transformation as movement in this design is important to the function of the building itself. As a health and wellness center, this is a place where anyone can become healthier, overcome addiction, discover a new outlook on life and gain strength through human connection and community support.

Green Logo

The logo of the Juneau Health + Wellness Center is abstracted from the architecture of the entire center. The architecture is abstracted from birds, birds’ wings and flight. The logo itself draws directly from the roofline of the two buildings that make up the center. The upwards directions of each line and mirrored image of the lines together create a sense of balance in the branding, which is exactly what this center aims to uphold in each patient’s life.

Green Logo Circle

The forms and combinations also mimic the culture that this center is meant to reflect, that of the Tlingit and Haida Indians in the Pacific Northwest. The blocky, tribal nature of the logo pairs with a deep green to maintain a northern coastal forest nature while still supporting a comforting, caring and professional narrative.

Medical Scrubs

Half-Zip Pullover

INTERIOR

DESIGN

Juneau Health + Wellness

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