Part 1: Designing for Well-being
Translating WELL Principles into Everyday Healthcare Experiences
Healthcare environments influence how people feel long before clinical care begins. At the SSM Health Outpatient Center in Sun Prairie, well-being was approached as a holistic design outcome – shaped by the intersection of architecture, interior design, site planning, and building systems to support comfort, clarity, and equity.
Targeting WELL Platinum Certification, the project expands orthopedic and comprehensive eye care services in the rapidly growing region while creating a calm, intuitive environment for healing and quality care. Rather than treating certification as an endpoint, the design team used WELL as a framework to guide decisions across disciplines – aligning spatial experience, environmental performance, and human health.
Health and wellness strategies are embedded throughout the building. Strategies supporting clean air, filtered water, and accessible hydration promote physical well-being while subtly encouraging healthy behaviors throughout the day. Spaces for nourishment and pause are integrated into the overall planning, reinforcing moments of care and empathy within a clinical setting.
Daylight plays a defining role. Building massing, site orientation, and interior layouts maximize access to natural light, supporting circadian health, visual comfort, and emotional well-being. For a center specializing in eyecare, this focus is especially critical. Controlled daylight, low‑glare finishes, accessible contrast, and smooth luminance transitions support safe navigation for patients with low or limited vision while enhancing comfort for all users. Flicker‑free lighting and responsive controls balance visual quality with energy efficiency.
Comfort extends beyond light. Intuitive circulation, ergonomic workstations, and a half‑mile walking path encourage natural movement. Radiant floors, perimeter heating, dimmable lighting and acoustic strategies stabilize thermal comfort, reduce stress, and support privacy across clinical and waiting areas.
Material health and mental well-being were considered inseparable. Interior selections emphasize ingredient transparency and low toxicity, while biophilic elements, integrated art, and quiet rooms foster emotional resilience. Equity is reinforced through high‑contrast wayfinding, shared access to wellness amenities, and a rotating first‑floor art gallery that amplifies neurodivergent voices.
Together, these strategies demonstrate how WELL‑informed design — across systems and scales — can move beyond compliance to create healthcare environments that feel intuitive, restorative, and dignified.
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Nourishment
A centrally located micro-market provides fresh fruits, vegetables, and nutritious food options, while nutritional information, allergen labeling, and special diet accommodations help occupants make informed decisions. Dedicated dining and respite areas encourage mindful eating and provide opportunities for restoration and social connection. Together, these design and operational strategies promote healthy eating behaviors and support the overall well-being of patients, visitors, and staff.
Community
An inclusive, health-centered environment was shaped through a collaborative stakeholder engagement process involving SSM Health, designers, engineers, contractors, and end users. Design strategies support equitable access for all occupants, including individuals with visual impairments, through high-contrast wayfinding, intuitive circulation, enhanced visual cues, and daylight-supported navigation. Community connections are reinforced through local artwork and partnerships such as the SSM Treffert Center gallery.
Thermal Comfort
The project’s mechanical systems are designed to deliver consistent thermal comfort and support occupant well-being year-round. Air distribution devices were carefully selected to provide effective ventilation while minimizing drafts and maintaining comfort throughout occupied spaces. Radiant heating, including in-floor systems and perimeter radiant panels, helps offset thermal loss at the building envelope during colder months, creating a more comfortable indoor environment. In support of WELL Thermal Comfort strategies, the building maintains relative humidity levels between 30% and 60% throughout the year, contributing to occupant comfort, health, and overall indoor environmental quality.
Light
Democratized access to natural light was a foundational design principle, ensuring patients, caregivers, and staff benefit from daylight and exterior views throughout the building. Daylight informed the organization of the clinic module and overall planning, helping improve alertness, productivity, and well-being while reducing stress and eye strain. Complementing natural light, the project incorporates dimmable, low-glare, flicker-free luminaires that support visual comfort, minimize fatigue, and create a healthier, more comfortable environment for all occupants.
Air
The project supports WELL Air concepts through a comprehensive indoor air quality strategy focused on filtration, ventilation, and pollution reduction. All air handling units are equipped with MERV 14 filtration to capture airborne particulates and contaminants, while carefully selected air distribution devices provide effective ventilation without creating drafts. Low-NOx boilers and water heaters further support air quality by reducing combustion-related emissions released into the atmosphere.
Movement
SSM Health’s Outpatient Center promotes movement as an everyday experience by integrating active design principles throughout the site and building. A prominent, daylit open stair, visible circulation routes, and decision-point wayfinding encourage occupants to engage with the building through movement. Height-adjustable desks, ergonomic workstations, and optimized workstation orientation support comfort and flexibility throughout the workday. Outside, walking trails connect users to nature, while bicycle storage, repair stations, showers, lockers, and changing facilities support active commuting. Convenient access to regional transit further expands mobility options, creating an environment that supports physical health, wellness, and occupant well-being.
Water
The project advances WELL Water principles by providing safe, high-quality drinking water supported by comprehensive testing, filtration, monitoring, and management practices. Water quality verification confirms compliance with chemical, organic, biological, and drinking water taste thresholds, while a Legionella management program and ongoing water quality monitoring help protect occupant health. Clearly identified hydration stations are conveniently distributed throughout the facility, ensuring easy access to clean drinking water and encouraging healthy hydration habits among patients, visitors, and staff.
Mind
The project supports mental and emotional well-being through a combination of restorative environments, connections to nature, and organizational wellness programs. Access to daylight, views, walking paths, and preserved natural landscapes strengthens occupants’ connection to nature, while local artwork and nature-inspired graphics foster a meaningful sense of place. Dedicated respite, wellness, and lactation rooms provide opportunities for restoration and reflection throughout the day. These design strategies are reinforced by SSM Health’s mental health resources, education programs, employee support services, and wellness initiatives, creating an environment that promotes resilience, reduces stress, and supports the overall well-being of patients, visitors, and staff.
Sound
Acoustic comfort was prioritized through a comprehensive sound mapping and acoustic design process that established performance criteria for different clinical and public zones. The design incorporates sound-isolating wall and door assemblies, sound-absorbing finishes, and reverberation control strategies to reduce background noise and improve speech privacy. These measures create a calmer, less stressful environment that supports patient healing, staff concentration, and effective communication.
Materials
The project prioritizes material health and transparency by selecting products that support healthier indoor environments while reducing exposure to harmful substances. Material specifications restrict asbestos, mercury, lead, PCBs, and other hazardous chemicals, while low-VOC products help protect indoor air quality during construction and occupancy. Preference was given to products with disclosed and third-party verified ingredient information, enabling informed material selection and greater transparency throughout the supply chain. These strategies, combined with ongoing waste management practices, support occupant health, environmental responsibility, and the WELL commitment to safer, more transparent building materials.
Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon.