The Richmond Urgent and Primary Care Centre is located in downtown Richmond, BC and provides urgent care for people with non-life-threatening conditions who need care within 12-24 hours but do not require an emergency department. In addition, the centre provides primary care services including family physicians, nurse practitioners, RN's, and a social worker. It also provides on-site and outpatient access to X-ray services.
Prior to Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) acquiring the building and converting it's use into healthcare, it was a commercial office building. KRA was initially retained by VCH to perform a schematic test fit for the new Urgent and Primary Care Centre. Upon completion of this scope, KRA continued the project as the Architect and Prime Consultant for the Richmond UPCC.
As demo began on the project, our team was delighted to discover a skylight was hidden under the existing t-bar ceiling. This skylight was integrated into the design of the new UPCC to bring in more natural light to the new Triage/Reception and Waiting Area of the Centre.
As the UPCC is located in an urban/ light industrial part of Richmond's city centre, it was important to create a calming space incorporating biophilic design elements. We achieved this through the use of earth tones and materials reminiscent of wood and stone, while remaining seamless and free of texture. The water inspired colour palette of greens and whites speaks to the landscape of Richmond, an island city surrounded by nature.
A key aspect of the interior design was the incorporation of Indigenous art as a means of expressing Vancouver Coastal Health's commitment to providing culturally safe health care to their Indigenous clients. KRA worked with Tiffany Creyke, Director of Indigenous Design and Projects, Aboriginal Health and local Musqueam artist, Mack Paul who created the artwork for the care centre.
Paul incorporated a traditional and ecological land-based narrative into the design of a mural that features the double-headed serpent, a key figure in the origin story of the Musqueam Nation. Elements of Paul's mural design were incorporated into the wall graphics and wayfinding elements throughout the clinic, creating a seamless and welcoming design.
