International Multuple Sclerosis Management Practice Clinic and Laboratory
YBM.studio (Yoshihara McKee Architects & Carolina Buzzetti, with Rafael Viñoly Architects)
New York, NY 2005
Construction Documents
Occupying one large floor of a New York Midtown building, this 29,000 square-foot clinic and research laboratory specializes in treating multiple sclerosis. Organically and simply integrating the clinic and the research laboratory, the layout is designed to enhance communication among the staff and to inspire interaction between the clinic personnel and the research scientists. The visibility of the research laboratories gives patients, doctors, nurses and researchers a sense of community, hope and a fighting spirit. The second objective provides patients with a livable space, not just a clean and functional institute. Bright colors and wood finishes contribute to the comfortable atmosphere. The lighting of the round column capitals and a series of glass screens reinforces this by providing a focus yet rhythmic sequence to the large interior spaces in the longer corridors.The third design feature introduces as much natural light as possible into the deep interior spaces and to avoid a maze that is often generated by large floor plans. Glass clerestories at the perimeter rooms maximize and distribute light into the interior corridors. Main corridors end in spaces with exterior windows to provide a connection the exterior and an orientation reference.
