DESIGNWORKS 2023

FirstHealth of the Carolinas

Pinehurst, NC

CPL

With its natural healing gardens, calming design palette, and intentional regional representation, this comprehensive cancer center includes all essential treatment services, ensuring holistic treatment of the person within each patient.

To bridge regional gaps in cancer treatment, FirstHealth of the Carolinas sought to establish one centralized facility that would eliminate the need for long-distance travel, connecting patients with the highest caliber of care closer to home. Our team was therefore enlisted to design a 130,000 sq. ft. addition to FirstHealth’s Moore Regional Hospital campus in Pinehurst, North Carolina through an integrated project delivery (IPD) method.

Because cancer treatment is a deeply personal and ever-evolving experience, it was important for the interior to cater to a wide range of needs and address the individual experience for each patient. Primary objectives revolved around restfulness and inclusivity; creating non-clinical spaces that fostered a strong sense of belonging was crucial. To achieve this, we needed to seamlessly integrate human-scale design and natural theming intentions.

Security and ease of navigation through wayfinding were also paramount to cultivate an environment that promotes trust in the institution and sets the right tone for recovery. Moreover, stakeholders desired designs that would reflect the area’s landscape to infuse the space with a soothing, familiar ambiance and forge a robust connection between people and place. The project faced additional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing our team to adapt in-person visioning and strategy meetings to virtual Zoom calls, adding a layer of complexity to the design process. This work demanded a holistic approach that emphasized the comprehensive wellness of the mind, body and soul.

We expedited planning by forming discipline-based “cluster groups” that managed specific project components, ensuring effective communication to prevent change orders in later phases. We identified design opportunities through whitepapers, surveys and collaborative brainstorming with stakeholders.

To establish the project’s “North Star,” we translated key descriptors into a guiding vision board. The resulting palette of muted greens, blues and neutrals, along with the natural look of wood-grained, resilient floors and textured soft surfaces, achieved a peaceful, calming, and intentional theme throughout the facility.

Designs accommodate diverse check-in options for visitors, including self-service kiosks for returning patients and a front desk for those needing personal assistance. We invited staff into the furniture selection process and curated artwork that complemented the interior design — including oversized organic imagery in the third-floor clinic, thoughtfully chosen to bring solace to anxious visitors.

Evidence-based design shows that nature views can enhance patient outcomes. With this in mind, our design process took inspiration from its surroundings: the iconic pine trees along with the unique sandhills of the region allowed us to integrate familiar imagery throughout the facility. The pine tree itself embodies the cancer journey — despite powerful storms, the pine tree will bend but not break, symbolizing each patients’ determination to overcome.

Even the lobby’s monumental light fixture mirrors the region’s undulating dunes. The LED bulbs—which change color, offering monthly cancer awareness displays that spotlight various cancer types—represent grains of sand, serving as a subtle yet impactful reminder of FirstHealth’s proud history in the region.

Now complete, the center is a beacon of hope, providing world-class care closer to home with a comforting, inclusive atmosphere that supports patients throughout their treatment journeys.

The FirstHealth Cancer Center was strategically envisioned to embody the system’s unique identity and commitment to comprehensive healing, in addition to its roots and history in Pinehurst. Seamlessly integrating advanced treatment services within a harmonious framework, we drew inspiration from the serene sandhills landscape, which influenced color palettes, signage, lighting, furniture selections, artwork, and more.

The center’s very essence is reflective of the region. Resilience, symbolized by the strength of local pine trees, is woven throughout the facility with related imagery, and the interior incorporates other natural visuals to instill a sense of calm in otherwise anxiety-inducing clinical spaces. The lobby also features a bespoke LED lighting installation which mirrors the environment’s sand dunes, with colors that can be changed to suit various purposes, serving as a canvas for cancer awareness and events.

Although the cancer journey isn’t without its challenges, the center’s thoughtful design, married with the dedication of the FirstHealth team, means that with every step, the road ahead becomes smoother and the burden a little lighter.