Redefining wellness

Deerfield Academy

The D.S. Chen Health and Wellness Center emphasizes sustainable and biophilic design to elegantly balance a modern healthcare environment within the aesthetic bounds of Deerfield Academy’s historic campus setting. Providing quality care in a comfortable, residential-esque setting, the facility’s design enables students to seek care and counseling privately and away from curious classmates, creating a space where the physical and mental wellness of each individual is paramount.
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Modern healthcare, historic context

Sitting on the border between the Deerfield campus and the town’s historic district, the Chen Center was designed to fit in with both adjacent conditions. Stepping, sloped roof forms and clapboard siding gracefully complement the feel and scale of the historic residential district, while large glass openings provide a welcoming campus entry. Wood slat screens inside the large windows provide a level of residential-scale detail and privacy.

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The biological benefits of biophilic design

The design celebrates the substantial health benefits of connecting  to nature. The new building boasts stunning views of the historic campus and the Deerfield River valley, making the most of the area’s seasonal foliage as well as the natural landscaping that surrounds the school. Custom wooden artwork in the lobby and a soft blue and green color palette create a warm and welcoming space for evaluation and treatment.

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Housing both a primary care clinic and infirmary, the building also provides wellness resources that include  counseling and nutrition guidance, classrooms, and a quiet room.

  • Clustering upper-level classrooms with the counseling suite allows students to discreetly seek counseling services.
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Regenerative design meets vernacular detailing

Simple, modern exterior detailing including elegant clapboard siding, recessed gutters and downspouts, and a mechanical exhaust that evokes residential chimneys, provides a fresh reinterpretation of the surrounding historic neighborhoods . The standing seam metal roof is carefully integrated with solar panels to gracefully blend regenerative design elements with vernacular forms.

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section graphic of deerfield health center

Photography: Robert Benson Photography

Project
D.S. Chen Center for Health and Wellness at Deerfield Academy
Location
Deerfield, MA
Size
30,000 SF
Awards
2020 AIA/Boston Society of Architects Design Awards, Healthcare Facilities Design Award

Redefining wellness

Deerfield Academy

Project
D.S. Chen Center for Health and Wellness at Deerfield Academy
Location
Deerfield, MA
Size
30,000 SF
Awards
2020 AIA/Boston Society of Architects Design Awards, Healthcare Facilities Design Award
The D.S. Chen Health and Wellness Center emphasizes sustainable and biophilic design to elegantly balance a modern healthcare environment within the aesthetic bounds of Deerfield Academy’s historic campus setting. Providing quality care in a comfortable, residential-esque setting, the facility’s design enables students to seek care and counseling privately and away from curious classmates, creating a space where the physical and mental wellness of each individual is paramount.
Presentation Mode
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_03

Modern healthcare, historic context

Sitting on the border between the Deerfield campus and the town’s historic district, the Chen Center was designed to fit in with both adjacent conditions. Stepping, sloped roof forms and clapboard siding gracefully complement the feel and scale of the historic residential district, while large glass openings provide a welcoming campus entry. Wood slat screens inside the large windows provide a level of residential-scale detail and privacy.

Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_08.jpg
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_11.jpg
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_15.jpg
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_16.jpg
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_07

The biological benefits of biophilic design

The design celebrates the substantial health benefits of connecting  to nature. The new building boasts stunning views of the historic campus and the Deerfield River valley, making the most of the area’s seasonal foliage as well as the natural landscaping that surrounds the school. Custom wooden artwork in the lobby and a soft blue and green color palette create a warm and welcoming space for evaluation and treatment.

Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_10
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_09

Housing both a primary care clinic and infirmary, the building also provides wellness resources that include  counseling and nutrition guidance, classrooms, and a quiet room.

  • Clustering upper-level classrooms with the counseling suite allows students to discreetly seek counseling services.
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_13
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_12
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_02_extended

Regenerative design meets vernacular detailing

Simple, modern exterior detailing including elegant clapboard siding, recessed gutters and downspouts, and a mechanical exhaust that evokes residential chimneys, provides a fresh reinterpretation of the surrounding historic neighborhoods . The standing seam metal roof is carefully integrated with solar panels to gracefully blend regenerative design elements with vernacular forms.

Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_17
Image
ARC_DeerfieldHealthCenter_04.jpg
Image
section graphic of deerfield health center

Photography: Robert Benson Photography

Redefining wellness / Deerfield Academy
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section graphic of deerfield health center