The Evolution of US Tribal Health Centers

Healthcare Design Magazine interviews James Childers about “the legacy he’s building, as well as the process behind designing facilities that proudly demonstrate the tribal values and cultural wealth of a historically underserved population.” (Healthcare Design Magazine: The Evolution of US Tribal Health Centers by Kristen D. Zeit.)

Childers talks about how he created facilities that represented each tribe he worked with, by putting buildings on hills, facing them east, or revealing the structure to appear like traditional wood facilities. The architecture responds both to the program needs and the cultural needs of the tribes.

In particular, I enjoy that James Childers designed healthcare facilities that could be used by the community after hours and for other purposes.

It’s a sentiment that I appreciate, as it brings healthcare back into the community.

The images collected for the interview are striking, you can view the slide show here. My favorite image is the exterior of the Tishomingo Health Clinic for the Chickasaw Nation.

What do you think?

Do you like the fact that James Childers brought the community back into the healthcare facilities he designed? You can let me know in the comments below, or you can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.