When NBBJ, a Seattle archectural firm, was hired to design the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center (CAIHC) in Fairbanks, Alaska, the firm had already conducted an 18-month cultural study that informed the planning and design of a hospital and three clinics in the Anchorage region, according to an article from Healthcare Design magazine's website.
But with the new project, the architects had to meet the specific needs of the Athabascan people of the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC).
“They wanted a building that shouts the Athabascan culture,” says Chuck Kolb, NBBJ project manager.
The focus is CAIHC’s main lobby, which serves as a larger gathering area that encourages social interaction. Its circular shape emphasizes the native way of life and connecting people in spirit. The building’s colors and forms reflect the strong seasonal colors of the Alaskan Interior and the beadwork images on the glass fins outside the windows cast lightly colored shadows inside the clinic, according to the article.
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