ALLEN, Texas—The architects of Intuitive Health’s flagship brand, Legacy ER & Urgent Care – Allen, 5G Studio Collaborative, announced recently they were recognized by The Dallas Architecture Forum as the recipient of the Best Health and Wellness Architecture Award as part of their 25th Anniversary Design Recognition program, themed “Looking Back – Looking Forward.”

The Dallas Architecture Forum’s 25th-anniversary celebration acknowledged the 25 most meaningful and influential architecture projects across North Texas over the past 25 years. An international jury of esteemed architects carefully evaluated submissions and selected 25 winners in various categories, including healthcare architecture. The Dallas Architecture Forum’s commitment to an impartial evaluation was evident, with none of the jurists hailing from North Texas, thus ensuring a fair and unbiased selection process.

Legacy ER & Urgent Care, known for its innovative approach to healthcare, created the first dual ER and urgent care model under one roof in Texas. The 8,500-square-foot state-of-the-art location in Allen, Texas, was the second location for Legacy ER & Urgent Care and was built from the ground up to support this visionary concept. The architect and interior designer for the Allen location was 5G Studio Collaborative, led by Yen Ong, FAIA. The facility opened in 2013 and is located at 1310 West Exchange Parkway, Allen, Texas, 75013.

Designed to embody the essence of Legacy ER & Urgent Care, the architecture was crafted to convey the dual nature of emergency medical professionals artistically. On one hand, it outwardly signifies attributes such as knowledge, skill, precision and decisiveness, essential for proficient emergency medical care. On the other hand, it inwardly reflects the compassionate, empathetic and humanistic qualities that define the individuals behind the medical attire.

The building’s profile reimagines traditional rooflines, introducing a new design language. Perforated panels on the exterior provide diffused lighting and passive solar shading. With a strong nod to environmentally conscious design, zinc was chosen for its sustainability and resilience in Texas weather.

The architecture skillfully incorporated Evidence-Based Design principles into its spatial layout, circulation and sensory elements while maintaining a balance to avoid an overly clinical appearance. Strategically positioned skylights facilitated intuitive wayfinding throughout the facility. Workspaces were thoughtfully designed to encourage peer collaboration, ensure patient accessibility and protect data privacy. Patient care areas were created with a focus on welcoming hospitality and treatment efficiency to minimize medication administration errors. Additionally, the well-being of medical staff in their off-stage environment was a priority. The staff lounge and office areas are connected by a sunlit double-height space, offering access to a balcony discreetly nestled under the zinc roof.

“We are humbled by The Dallas Architecture Forum’s recognition of Legacy ER & Urgent Care at Allen as one of twenty-five most significant projects in North Texas that were built within the past 25 years,” said Ong. “The project embodies our studio’s best ideals and represents the rarest kind of architectural achievement that was enabled by a forward-thinking client like Dr. Woody, who empowered an architect to do the right thing in service of the patients and the staff alike.”

Jay Woody, MD, FACEP, ABEM, Founder of Legacy ER & Urgent Care and Chief Medical Officer of Intuitive Health, reminisced about their early collaboration with 5G Studio Collaborative, stating, “At the time we brought 5G Studio Collaborative on board, both our companies were in their infancy. We ventured into this partnership together, and our brands have seen extraordinary ten-fold growth.” He added, “Just as Legacy ER & Urgent Care redefines how people access healthcare, 5G Studio Collaborative has redefined healthcare architecture, enhancing the patient experience while remaining true to our core values and mission. We extend our heartfelt thanks to 5G and Yen Ong for their partnership, bringing us to where we are today.”

Architects: 5G Studio Collaborative

Architectural Team: Yen Ong, Paul Merrill, Josh Allen, Christine Robbins, Danielle Cross (interior design) Area: 8432 ft²

Year: 2013

Manufacturers: MetalTech-USA, Seves Glassblock, VIGO Industries

Interior Designer: 5G Studio Collaborative

Structural Engineer: Datum Engineers

MEP Engineer: Jordan & Skala Engineers

Civil Engineer: RLK Engineering

Landscape Architect: SMR Landscape Architects

General Contractor: UEB Builders

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—The first-ever Ronald McDonald House designed and built for a hotel has officially opened at the Marriott Springhill Suites at The Highlands, connected to Presbyterian Hospital via a skywalk in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of New Mexico (“RMHC-NM”) and Titan Development (“Titan”) a creator and developer of The Highlands project (in partnership with Maestas Development Group-MDG), is celebrating the arrival of the first guest families to its new Ronald McDonald “Highlands House” which occupies the hotel’s entire third floor. The floor is dedicated to the nonprofit and customized to fit the needs of families staying with their often seriously ill children undergoing treatment at area hospitals. The new 19,000-square-foot space features 20 guest rooms, a secured dedicated elevator and community areas including living room spaces, library, indoor and outdoor play areas, technology nooks, a large kitchen and laundry room.

“Today we are welcoming to our new Highlands House our very first guest family whose child is currently in treatment at Presbyterian Hospital,” said Jessica Wright, chief executive officer of RMHC-NM. “We’re delighted that hundreds of other children and teens each year will be able to have the comfort of their families close by – just a short walk through an enclosed Skybridge to the hospital. While it may not be able to make the medicine taste better or erase the discomfort of a much-needed treatment, Highlands House will lessen the financial, emotional and physical burden for the families during a very difficult time in their lives. We are very grateful to Titan for their commitment to making this project a success, and we hope it becomes a model for future partnerships with developers, hotels and medical centers to expand Ronald McDonald Houses around the U.S.”

Highlands House is among the first projects to be developed as part of the planned $120 million mixed-use Highlands development, spanning five blocks and 12 acres in a previously blighted area in the heart of Albuquerque. Titan and MDG first envisioned The Highlands project 15 years ago, and after several years navigating approvals and upgrading the site’s infrastructure, a formal plan was presented in 2015 to revitalize the community and create an iconic destination on Historic Route 66. Titan employees have long volunteered at RMHC’s first New Mexico location, and understood the charity’s need for additional space beyond its current house, which unfortunately had been forced to turn away hundreds of families each year.

“From the beginning we were determined that The Highlands would provide a positive social impact for the community, not just an economic benefit,” said Kurt Browning, Partner at Titan. “The Ronald McDonald House Charities reached out to us in 2016 looking for a site within our masterplan for a second Ronald McDonald house, but instead, we collectively brainstormed the out-of-the-box idea – adding a floor to the planned hotel for a new Ronald McDonald House. Over the last five years the challenge and complexity of this project has touched nearly everyone at Titan. We want to thank our dedicated employees and share their pride that many more families in need will be helped by Highlands House and will allow the organization to serve an additional 640 families each year.”

Matt Lammers, Director of Development at Titan, said, “We knew this was the perfect location for Highlands House and the opening is a tremendous milestone for the entire Highlands project. We brought together many stakeholders, including Marriott for approvals, to realize the dream of Highlands House, from concept through completion. It has been a unique opportunity for Titan and MDG to contribute to the community and we look forward to the many exciting attractions coming to The Highlands that will make this a truly vibrant mixed-use neighborhood.”

In addition to working with Dallas-based architecture firm 5G Studio Collaborative to customize the third-floor space at no cost to RMHC-NM, Titan also partnered with French & French Interiors to donate their design services and worked with other suppliers to furnish the space.

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