The Biophilic Vision
The Nascentia Health Headquarters located on Syracuse’s West side is a 47,000-sf building containing office space, a training center and an Adult Social Daycare.
The design was inspired by the concept of ‘Biophilia’ which suggests that people are instinctively drawn to natural elements and lifeforms.
It is our belief that creating a strong connection to nature through architecture helps foster an improved sense of mental, physical and social wellness, transforming the workspace experience.
The Biophilic Vision is reflected at many scales within the design; from the overall approach towards site design and surrounding context down to the selections of finishes and materials.
The building is a testament to Nascentia Health’s mission to promote and restore health.
Designing for Continuity
At the scale of the site, the design solution required their existing office building to remain standing and operational until the new office was completed.
This challenge led to the development of the L-shaped organizational form which inherently has the ability to establish boundaries and produce overlaps between competing forces simultaneously (urban/nature, dark/light, open/concealed, inside/outside, front/back).
The use of natural materials continues through the interior where wood paneling, vibrant earth tone colors and natural inspired flooring are used to highlight key moments within the building.
To promote collaboration and staff well-being, the building provides a range of spaces for group and individual activities, including: open collaborative spaces, enclosed conference rooms, training rooms and private quiet rooms.
These spaces were strategically located for convenient access, emphasized by their use of color, materiality and shape. They exist in the interior of the open office space as reverberations of the articulated exterior wood surface and combine full height glazing, wood and vibrant colors drawn from nature.
Interior Verticality
The finishes are organized vertically as a representation of the cross section of a lush forest. The patterns and colors chosen begin at ground level as inspirations from, grasses and foliage and rise towards the sky as one moves upward in the building.
To balance the need for privacy, the design distributes the various departments throughout the building. Each department contains its own flexible open office area positioned on the exterior to increase access to natural light and views for all staff members.
Drawing from natural elements and themes, the new headquarters for Nascentia Health is evidence that architecture can be transformative, helping to improve the experience and wellness of its users.
