Center designed with neurodiverse patients in mind

Waiting spaces include tactile feature walls and dynamic art installations meant to reduce anxiety and provide positive distraction.

Image by Jeffrey Totaro, Architectural Photographer

Philadelphia-based Jefferson Health’s new Honickman Center, which opened earlier this year, spans more than 462,000 square feet and houses more than a dozen specialty practices. Global integrated design firm Stantec designed the facility with a focus on inclusivity. 

Working closely with Wendy Ross, M.D., director of the Jefferson Center for Autism and Neurodiversity, Stantec designed spaces that provide a supportive and positive care experience to minimize stress and meet the needs of both neurodivergent and neurotypical patients.

“When someone is neurodiverse or autistic, they can be very sensitive to the sensory environment around them,” Ross says. “So, unexpected noises, lights and sounds at certain frequencies can be extremely dysregulating.”

Wayfinding was developed to promote a sense of calm and control, with neutral, warm finishes and subtle patterns that are calming, along with other elements that reduce ambient noise. Glazing is used to promote a sense of calm as patients move from one space to the next.

“One of the things that we learned through this collaboration with Ross is that neurodiverse sensitive design is really just plain good design, especially for health care spaces,” says Kristina Klingbeil, NCIDQ, CHID, a senior associate and interior designer at Stantec’s Philadelphia office. “For instance, the waiting rooms are long and narrow, which allowed us to create spaces that are quieter and a bit more intimate.”