The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced the winners of its 2015 AIA Institute Honor Awards, which recognize achievements for a broad range of architectural activity. The Legacy ER & Urgent Care in Allen, Texas was honored in the healthcare category, according to an article in Contract magazine.

The new hybrid facility was designed to streamline the process of administering both emergency and urgent care. The resulting 8,430-square-foot building proves that high-quality design can be a critical ingredient in making this new healthcare business model viable, and it establishes a template for the future development of similar healthcare facilities, the article said.

In the reception and waiting areas, the edges of stone and alabaster-like solid surfaces appear to blur in the natural light emanating through skylights.

Patient care areas, including exam rooms with windows, as well as workspaces in the double-height administrative and staff offices, were designed based on evidence-based design research findings to create spaces that reduce errors, promote cleanliness, and enhance peer collaboration, patient accessibility, and data privacy without feeling overly technical or methodical, the article said.

Read the article.