Designing for Women
Designing for Women
Since our inception, IKM has earned a reputation for delivering excellent architectural design and outstanding service to our many clients. We extend beyond the basic requirements of a commission to build lasting relationships and develop a deep understanding of the issues surrounding our client’s business. By placing ourselves in the position of a patient, clinician, or administrator, we emphasize a holistic approach to the healing process into which the physical environment is intrinsically woven.
Women’s health facilities offer the unique opportunity for architects to cater designs to the majority users of the space: women. In order to create pleasing and calming facilities for this patient group, we consult research on gender to inform our design decisions. Based on general comparisons between female and male patient populations, there are several key factors to consider. Anxiety is managed and memories are recorded differently during stressful experiences. Gender plays a role in the way our senses perceive our surroundings, which affects how we process the built environment. Our preferences can also be shaped by our experiences of gender. For example, there is significant evidence that women have a higher appreciation for intricate details in their surroundings than men.
Designing for women means enveloping patients in an environment that feels comfortable and special, customized just for them. Because of the incredible amount of detail women encode in memories during times of stress, the details of a building or interior design are that much more significant. The healthcare space exists beyond the confines of the facility – it lives on in the memories of female patients.
Understanding that each individual has unique preferences regardless of gender, this analysis is nonetheless valuable when designing for a defined patient group. By evaluating what makes women feel most comfortable and why, we are able to customize our designs to best suit the female patients they serve.
How to Design for Women
Understanding Gender-Specific Design Strategies in a Healthcare Environment
Biology
Women process stimuli through their senses differently from men. This can affect how they perceive their environment.
Sight:
Women with two X-chromosomes have a greater variety of color-perceiving cones. One in twelve men are colorblind, while only one in 255 women are.
Designing for Women:
The application of interior finishes with subtle variations in tone can be more effective in women’s health spaces as a tool for positive distraction.
Hearing:
Women are generally able to comprehend multiple sources of sound simultaneously, while men process only one source at a time.
Designing for Women:
Multiple sources of sound can be integrated in a waiting room as a way to deter female patients from overhearing private conversations that may occur at reception.
Navigation
Spatial Orientation:
Research shows that the average male brain has seven times more gray matter that accounts for spatial orientation which aids in interpreting two-dimensional maps. Females do not have a portion of the brain dedicated to spatial orientation and prefer three-dimensional maps and navigating with visual references to track distance or direction change.
Designing for Women:
Directories should be three-dimensional and provide symbols that correlate with points of reference in the building. Strategically located artwork, feature walls, and accent colors can act as landmarks for patients following directions and circulating through the space.
“Men often describe color as red, blue, green, while women talk about color as teal, mauve, or apple green
because of the many shades their eyes can detect.”
How to Design for Women
Understanding Gender-Specific Design Strategies in a Healthcare Environment
Stress
Processing Stress:
The structure of the average female brain and the influence of hormones means that women process stress differently than men. Under stress, men tend to withdraw while women seek social support.
Designing for Women:
When women are experiencing stress, the part of the brain that facilitates communication is activated. Women feel more comfortable discussing their condition or treatment with staff in a setting that supports an extended private exchange. Patient rooms and areas of treatment designed for women should cater to this gender-specific need for socialization in stressful situations.
Encoding Memories
Object Location Memory:
Women excel in object location memory, so they are more likely than men to process and remember the specific details of a space. Men tend not to take mental note of colors, textures, and patterns in their surroundings1. Moderate stress can enhance memory formation in women and encourage extensive cataloging of emotional material and information related to the stressful context2.
Designing for Women:
Mapping the patient experience allows designers to evaluate peaks in stress level throughout a healthcare journey and identify areas of the design that would benefit from elements of positive distraction. It is during these stressful moments that a female is processing the details of her environment. For example, the view during an uncomfortable mammogram should display beautiful imagery or pleasing detail. Color, pattern, as well as smell, sound, and the feeling of discomfort will impact a female patient’s memory of her last mammogram. Dressing the patient space with pleasant details results in more pleasant memories of stressful events.
1: 'The Role of Sex in Memory Function’ by Paul D. Loprinzi and Emily Frith 2: 'Learning and Memory Under Stress: Implications for the Classroom Susanne Vogel & Lars SchwabeUnderstanding Preferences
Women
Rounded Lines
Natural Shapes
Broad Color Palette
Muted Tones
Detail & Texture
Complex Patterns
Subtle Contrast
Images of Stationary Objects(3)
Men
Straight Lines
Sharp Corners
Limited Color Palette
Darker Tones
Less Detail
Simple Patterns
High Contrast
Images of things in Motion(3)
3: 'Gender, Design, and Marketing: How Gender Drives Our Perception of Design and Marketing' by Gloria MossWest Virginia University Medicine Children’s Hospital
8th Floor Birthing Center
Morgantown, West Virginia
COMPLETION DATE:
September 2022
PROJECT SIZE:
360,000 square feet
CONSTRUCTION TYPE: New Construction
PROJECT SCOPE:
The freestanding West Virginia University Medicine (WVUM) Children’s Hospital supports the delivery of highly specialized care for the kids of West Virginia and beyond. This 155bed, eight-story pediatric bed tower, women’s pavilion, and medical office building connects to the Heart and Vascular Institute on the campus of Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. The main entry is a grand, multi-story, light-filled space that welcomes one’s arrival with calming tones and clear wayfinding. It includes places of refuge such as a café, gift shop, multi-faith chapel, and pharmacy. Patient rooms begin on the sixth floor, offering stunning vistas of West Virginia’s mountainous topography. The design offers the patient and family control of room lighting including color and ambiance through manipulatable LED light fixtures. On the seventh floor, the NICU has flexible rooms to accommodate multiple birth events for families gifted with twins, triplets, or quadruplets. The eighth floor houses the Obstetrics Unit, with LDRP rooms, post-partum rooms, and antenatal rooms.
Birthing Center
The Birthing Center is dedicated to the embrace of new life. Offering Obstetric care in a comfortable spa-like environment, this facility supports the needs of families as they welcome their new addition. Multiple approaches to laboring and delivery are available to those giving birth, including water labor options. Unimpeded access to triage rooms is available directly across from the elevators to assess labor progression. Should medical conditions necessitate, fully equipped C-Section rooms are embedded on the floor to reduce travel distance. State-of-the-art newborn medical support is also available to handle all situations quickly and effectively. Patient rooms support immediate bonding of the newborn with space for both the baby and the partner. Calm colors encourage stress relief and mountain vistas supply positive distractions. Challenging pregnancies are located in a separate area of the floor so those conditions can be managed with little distraction.
Plaster panels in the lobby reflect light and cast shadow, highlighting a curved flower petal relief that changes as the patient moves through the room. The subtle contrast of wood grain wall panels and gray veins in the white marble reception desk pique the senses as female patients scan the space.
Allegheny Health Network
Forbes Regional Hospital, Obstetrics Unit Renovation
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
COMPLETION DATE: 2016
PROJECT SIZE: 10,300
CONSTRUCTION TYPE: Expansion & Renovation
PROJECT SCOPE:
To accommodate a new obstetrics practice and an increase in births by 156%, this expanded Labor and Delivery Unit combines the comforts of home with the details of a boutique hotel. A busy medical/surgical unit at Forbes Regional Hospital was relocated to accommodate the 10,300 square foot expansion. New LDRP rooms match the high level of style and amenities offered in existing rooms. The spacious size allows new parents and babies to share the room comfortably. Patients should feel like they are at home, with a relaxing environment, larger toilet rooms, and added sitting areas so all family members are welcome. This expanded Labor and Delivery Unit was operational just two and a half months after programming was completed.
Labor & Delivery Room
Interior design details transform the patient room from a clinical space to a temporary home for growing families. Warm wood tones and neutrals are illuminated by elegant light sconces. A decorative ivory wall cover adds soft texture to the space, drawing the eye and bringing a boutique feel. Flexible seating options can be included or removed to accommodate family and friends. The spacious private bathroom matches the luxurious finishes of the patient room. Shimmery tiles backdrop the round mirror above the sink, softly lit from either side. The toilet and full shower are easily accessible for new parents.
Simple elements such as glass mosaic tile and a tufted headwall panel create just enough pattern and subtle shadow to lend a feminine and elegant feel to this patient room.
UPMC Dr. Obagi Wexford Office
Wexford, Pennsylvania
COMPLETION DATE:
July 2018
PROJECT SIZE:
9,100 Square Feet
CONSTRUCTION TYPE:
Renovation
PROJECT SCOPE:
Dr. Obagi’s robust skin care practice serves a diverse group of patients. This relocation to a more contemporary space provided the opportunity to optimize aesthetics and functionality. Through continuous collaboration between the IKM team and Dr. Obagi, the renovation is completely tailored to the operations of the practice. The new office supports high standards of care within a soothing and refined atmosphere. Patient experience was prioritized in every design decision. Finishes are luxurious and economical. Tile imported from Italy adds delicate detail to the waiting area in soft neutrals. Standardized exam rooms provide convenience to the staff and familiarity for patients. The interior design promotes tranquility and relaxation. The updated office serves as a timeless and beautiful environment for Dr. Obagi’s practice and her patients.
Skin Care Practice
The key to making this a place of respite for female patients is in the intricate textures incorporated throughout the office. The imported Italian wall tile is strategically lit to cast mesmerizing shadows across the surface. A glass divider blocks sound from travelling across the waiting room and displays large-scale graphics of tulips and daffodils. The floral theme continues in patterned exam room walls and corridor accents. Indirect lighting from an organic cove in the bulkhead glows over soft furniture in the waiting room. A soothing neutral palette provides cohesion between the waiting area and clinical spaces.
The wall covering and wood grain of the exam rooms are perfect examples of subtle and complex patterns that women tend to appreciate. The delicacy of the detail elevates the feminine feel of the space.
SEHA Corniche Women's Hospital
Abu Dbahi, UAE
COMPLETION DATE:
Ongoing
PROJECT SIZE:
800,000 Square Feet
CONSTRUCTION TYPE: New Construction
PROJECT SCOPE:
Holistic healthcare for women embraces their sensitivities and thought patterns to create an environment that nurtures and engages the mind, body, and spirit in the healing and birth processes. In collaboration with the Morgan Group and Marco Graziano Design Studio, IKM designed the new Corniche Women’s Hospital to reflect the top quality and compassionate care provided to patients within. Whether a woman is at the facility to celebrate the birth of her child or to address a medical need, this facility, located in Abu Dhabi, caters specifically to the unique health needs of women in a comfortable and inspiring environment. Spread over nine floors, the new hospital replaces an existing aged facility and supports modern treatment modalities associated with an In Vitro Fertilization Clinic, Outpatient Care Clinic, ICU, Pharmacy, four Operating Rooms, fourteen large Birthing Rooms, 52 NICU Rooms, 35 Special Care Baby Unit Rooms, 28 Post-Partum Rooms, and Isolation Patient Rooms. Additionally, dedicated areas for royal patrons are included along with integral parking, lush landscaping, and culturally appropriate amenities.
Women's Hospital - Exterior
The exterior façade has a modern, curvilinear, and contemporary style, with a feminine mashrabiya-inspired metal veil draped preciously over the upper levels to soften the harsh glare of daylight while reflecting the character of the women within its walls. Materials were selected for simplicity and strength, in a warm neutral palette. Ivory and gray stone and champagne metal slats bring texture to the façade, while gently curving canopies shade pedestrians from the sun. At night, the building appears to glow softly. Lighting design accentuates the beauty of the hospital and ensures safe passage for visitors entering and exiting. Subtle LED lights shine delicately across the lace veil, mimicking the night sky and changing color for special occasions.
The building exterior is rich with pattern and texture. Every edge and canopy forms a sweeping curve reminiscent of lines found in nature, creating a soft and subtle presence. Live walls of greenery and stone veneer at the lower podium level continue the organic theme.
Women's Hospital - Interior
The interior design incorporates positive distractions and customizable elements to enhance the patient experience. Spacious public areas and elegant finishes offer a sense of luxury and serenity throughout the building. Neutral colors are accented with complimentary muted tones to add layers of richness. Soft light emanates from indirect coves and sculptural pendants of metal and glass. Decorative wall coverings and faceted metal details add a touch of sparkle and wonder. Natural daylight filters through exterior lace-patterned screens to control harsh glare and grace the interiors with an intricate pattern of shadow and light. Luxurious patient rooms offer multiple lighting options to give patients and families a sense of control.
Interesting patterns of light and shadow create depth and detail. The design employs patterned solar screens, backlit glass panels with decorative cutouts, custom sculptural light fixtures, and simple strips of light along interior edges to bring this women’s hospital to life.
UPMC Passavant Magee Center of Excellence
McCandless, Pennsylvania
COMPLETION DATE:
January 2022
PROJECT SIZE:
6,500 Square Feet
CONSTRUCTION TYPE:
New Construction
PROJECT SCOPE:
UPMC Passavant updated their Centers of Excellence in order to establish a welcoming first impression and improve overall patient experience. During the design process, IKM evaluated patient entry flow, waiting and registration needs, and life safety plans to optimize patient and staff circulation. The updated layout allows visitors to easily and comfortably navigate the Center. The front door experience was refreshed with a newly developed design aesthetic. Signage and landscaping were added at the main entrances to the Hospital for a clear and friendly arrival experience. A new set of interconnecting stairs between the main registration area and the cafeteria on the lower floor create a convenient pathway for patients and staff. Digital content was incorporated into the design to prominently display Hospital donors, history, and staff recognition. The Magee-Women’s Specialty Services Clinic, a Center of Excellence offered at Passavant Hospital, was also updated as part of this project.
Women's Specialty Services Clinic
The Magee Center of Excellence is divided into a Women’s Health suite of 3,100 square feet, a Women’s Imaging suite of 3,400 square feet, and a shared central waiting room. The design prioritizes preservation of privacy and dignity within the imaging suite by separating circulation of gowned patients from non-gowned patients. Each exam room has direct access to a private bathroom, minimizing the need for female patients to exit the patient room in a gown. A soft finish palette draws inspiration from nature to make the space feel less clinical. This project represents the first phase of a Center of Excellence redesign at UPMC Passavant McCandless that enables UPMC Magee to serve more women in more communities.
Interior finishes emphasize a subtle variation in tone with natural colors and materials: maple wood panels, light gray and white stone counters, resin panels with wispy branches growing toward the sky, and carpet with a soft earth-like pattern. Organically curving walls, floor patterns, and bulkheads add to the natural and comforting feel of the space.
St. Clair Hospital Oxford Drive Breast Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
COMPLETION DATE: 2014
PROJECT SIZE: 6,400 Square Feet
CONSTRUCTION TYPE: Renovation
PROJECT SCOPE:
St. Clair Hospital’s existing Breast Center was embedded in the main hospital with little identity of its own. As part of the new Oxford Drive Outpatient Center, IKM designed an independent home for the Breast Center that prioritizes patient comfort and experience. The new suite is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of women with breast disease. Interior details like crystal wall sconces, iridescent tile mosaics, and a water feature contribute to a spa-like environment that encourages patients to relax. The floor layout and room adjacencies consider ease of circulation for staff while catering to privacy of the patient as they travel from dressing rooms to diagnostic and exam areas.
Common threads of design aesthetic tie the departments within the Outpatient Center together while creating separate branding identities for each practice suite. The unique features of the Breast Center encourage female patients to feel at home in this clinical environment. The design creates a superior patient experience to support the growing healthcare needs of Pittsburgh’s South Hills residents. Service was uninterrupted throughout the design and construction of this multiphase renovation.
Breast Center
Organic and biophilic elements promote a serene atmosphere throughout the Breast Center. Patients are greeted with a softly curving reception desk mirrored by the rounded bulkheads above. The gentle water feature trickles soothingly and doubles as white noise for privacy. Subtle details in the recessed light sconces and reflective wall tiles bring positive distraction and femininity to the space. The glass doors between the waiting room and clinical spaces are embellished with a translucent dogwood flower graphic to preserve privacy. Corridors beyond are offset to further obstruct views from the public area. The soothing palette of muted colors and wood tones is accented with soft shades of blue and green.
A gentle water feature emits a sound reminiscent of a flowing stream to soothe and relax patients. It also acts as an additional source of white noise to mask unexpected personal conversations at reception.
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