The Iris Center
A new approach to behavioral health.
The Iris Center is a behavioral health clinic for adolescents and young adults. Within its community-driven program, services beyond behavioral health are offered to provide holistic and comprehensive care to the young members of the community. With a shortage of behavioral health facilities in the area, and even fewer that cater to the younger members of the community, the Iris Center is uniquely poised to offer patient-centered care that starts with the built environment. With community resource development programs in addition to clinical care, the Center seeks to improve the overall health of these individuals by transforming the framework for our approach to patient care and experience to acknowledge that effective intervention strategies start with spaces where treatment occurs. Using the historic context of the Art Deco style of the building that sits within the historic New Orleans Riverfront region within the Central Business District, the ties to history and culture can be preserved. By merging historical context and innovative treatment strategies, we can create spaces that foster healing, comfort, and recovery equitably.
For my senior capstone, I am examining how placemaking, accessibility, and equitable design strategies influence patient recovery in behavioral health clinics.
The Iris Center features three main categories of spaces: Community Spaces, Therapy Spaces, and Employee Spaces.
The division of space categories by floor varies by level of required privacy and access. As you move vertically through the building, privacy increases.
1st Floor
3rd Floor
2nd Floor
Integrative technology is a key feature throughout.
To enhance the user experience, kiosks for check-in, location, and learning opportunities are placed at central points for easy access and visibility.
Axonometric View
Therapy Spaces
The therapy spaces within the Iris Center encompass several different treatment and design strategies. With the primary types and uses of spaces being sound therapy rooms, music therapy rooms, modular therapy rooms, group therapy rooms, and therapy garden pods within the therapy garden, each room has been designed with occupant comfort and safety in mind. The individual therapy rooms are all equipped with sensory interactive walls, black-out motorized shades, and color-changing cove lighting for the personalization of each experience. The waiting area of the clinic merges with the therapeutic garden to create a dynamic and interactive waiting area that defies the stigmatized healthcare waiting room expectations.
sound therapy
music therapy
traditional therapy
nature therapy
group therapy
restrooms
Community Spaces
The focus on community-driven programs is shown through the spaces and services offered in the Center. Ensuring that inclusivity and diversity were at the forefront of the design, something as standard as a restroom became an opportunity to create a space that was gender-non-conforming and family-centered that still maintained the privacy, comfort, and adaptability that is required of restrooms.
main entry + lobby
virtual reality arcade
virtual reality arcade
cafe camellia
reception + waiting areas
flex space
Employee Spaces
To improve employee satisfaction and retention rate, the Iris Center offers amenities like the Live Oak Gym, a rooftop garden and lounge, and an office lounge with a full kitchen in addition to the traditional office rooms and coworking spaces. All spaces have private and restricted access that allows employees to have dedicated spaces for their use and to improve their quality of life.
