The UCSF Spine Center is one of the largest centers of its kind in the country, treating 10,000 patients a year. It brings together world-renowned specialists in neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, neurology, psychiatry, and other specialties to design the most effective treatment for each patient's condition. The team includes experts in cancer, pain management, physical therapy, radiation oncology and rheumatology.

The project objective was to relocate the Spine Center from another floor to a newly renovated clinic space which would house radiology equipment rooms, exam rooms, staff workplaces, and support functions. With strict project parameters and program, the design team was challenged to meet the functional needs of the merging UCSF ortho and neuro spine clinics into one, thoughtful space. Teams of doctors, residents, nurses, and administrative staff all chimed in adjacency requirements, and design ideas that would help streamline and improve their workflow. The clinic is split into ortho on the east side of the floor plate, and neuro on the west side, both needing a specific number of exam rooms, hub space and work rooms for staff. The west side is also home to the radiology function of the clinic, with two x-ray rooms with a shared dual control room, and a state-of-the-art EOS 3D spine scan and control room. The design team studied anxiety points along the patient journey and designed purposefully around making the whole experience as soothing as possible.

Designed around the dichotomy of softness and strength, the UCSF Spine Center aims to celebrate the grace and resilience of its’ patients, juxtaposing raw concrete structure and blackened steel framing with a soft and serene palette brought to life through local artwork and light play, all meant to facilitate a serene experience.

Photography: Emily Hagopian