A Future Vision for Walmart

WALMART HEALTH

September 13, 2019, MMA was part of another “First”: Walmart Health launched its first Primary Care Clinic in Dallas, GA. Walmart was able to utilize its retail know-how to design an integrated and consumer friendly experience. Walmart Health offerings include a very diverse set of services under one roof giving Walmart customers and their patients the opportunity to easily access what they need, whenever they need it. Services include cost effective and comprehensive primary care including behavioral health, telehealth, dental, phlebotomy, imaging services, audiology, community health (nutritional services, fitness), health insurance education, clinical and optical services and a newly designed state of the art vision sales and pharmacy. As a proponent of Modular Construction long before it became popular, Gabe design approach allows these Health Clinics to be constructed in record time. With an average square footage of between 6000-7500 SF, using integrated magnetic panels has enable a space to be built out in under 2 weeks. With a vacuum waste system incorporated into the panels, there was no need for trenching, thereby significantly reducing construction time. https://www.mma-architects.com/ walmart-health-case-study/

With a reduction in non-revenue generating spaces such as circulation. MMA’s patented “Hyperpod” was well suited for integration of the primary healthcare exam rooms. This design effectively reduced the linear footage requirements along the outside wall by up to 35%, while still delivering the natural light to patients. Everything from floor finishes, ceiling finishes, casework were continually being explored and tested within the mock-up. Testing multiple options for prototyping was also implemented. Before the mock-up was built, virtual reality provided numerous advantages over physical mock-ups. MMA’s ability to effectively use 3D visualization technology was an economical alternative to quickly simulate and study layouts. MMA was able to test the functionality of the room by wearing head-mounted display allowing any individual to physically immerse themselves within the virtual space to test the design without physically building one. Virtual Reality proved to complement and drive the design of the physical mock-up and continues to do so today. The intricate and detailed animations continually helped fill in the blanks for designers and the associated Walmart design teams. Collectively we were able to make informed decisions on the design but more importantly, how interfaces should be built and how to help uncover potential constructability concerns.