Bringing the Outside to a Medical Office Building’s Inside
Overview:
San Ysidro Health’s new five-story medical office building in Chula Vista is being thoughtfully designed by FS Design Group to reflect San Diego County’s diverse natural and urban environments. Featuring unique floor-by-floor themes inspired by the city, ocean, chaparral, mountains and desert, the interior design blends aesthetics, durability and intuitive wayfinding to create a restorative patient experience and celebrate community identity.
In programming the interior design for their new medical office, San Ysidro Health (SYH) envisioned a space that reflects the vibrant communities it serves and supports their physicians and staff. San Ysidro Health is a nonprofit offering high-quality, compassionate, accessible and affordable healthcare and support services for patients of all ages, and this project will support a wide range of health initiatives.
How Do We Find Design Inspiration?
FS Design Group, SYH’s long-term medical interior design partner, is bringing SYH’s vision to reality by using inspiration from the five natural and urban environments in which SYH provides patient care across San Diego County: the city, ocean, chaparral, mountains and desert.
Through thoughtful interior design and carefully curated color palettes, these elements are seamlessly integrated into the fabric of the building, creating a culturally connected, warm and welcoming atmosphere that feels both grounded and uplifting. This environment-driven approach enhances the patient experience while celebrating the diverse landscapes that define the region SYH serves.
Bringing Nature Elements into Interior Design
The outside environments influence each floor’s design. Working with a neutral palette of warm whites and grays that is consistent throughout the building, the unique textures and colors selected for each floor are pulled from the landscape theme. For example, the water-inspired floor features rich hues of turquoise and blue, while the chaparral floor incorporates the greens of a picnic-inviting field.
Abstract landscape interpretations, utilizing forms, shapes, patterns, light and color, will announce each floor’s environmental themes upon arrival. The materials used in the wall coverings, flooring, furniture, fixtures, signage and art will reflect the mood of each environment. The background of consistent neutrals colors and wood tones used throughout unifies the design across all levels.
Combining Beauty with Practicality in Healthcare Design
Of course, given the nature of the services to be provided in the building, all the selected materials will be durable and hygienic to ensure the health and safety of the patients and medical staff. The design serves as subtle and helpful wayfinding so patients will know which floor they are on.
Work on the building has begun, with a grand opening expected in 2026.
