Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine Medical Center Planning

Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine is one of only four naturopathic medicine schools in North America, training its doctors in methods of alternative healthcare different from those of traditional allopathic treatments. Part of the school’s training program includes a working clinic now located in Scottsdale. To more effectively train their students and provide their staff and patients a state of the art facility that includes environmental medicine, the school made the decision to relocate the clinic to the school campus.

Orcutt | Winslow helped SCNM develop a program for the clinic through extensive user group interviews. Additionally, the project team spoke with the school users on the existing campus to establish the school’s long term needs. These interviews allowed us to develop a comprehensive campus plan and a specific plan for the clinic. This was necessary to ensure that the school integrated well into the existing campus, was constructible without disrupting the on-going educational programs, and allowed for future expansion of the overall campus to support continued growth of its enrollment. From this campus master plan, Orcutt | Winslow developed floor plans, perspective views, cost estimates, and a schedule for the medical clinic for use as a basis for a capital campaign.

Orcutt | Winslow created a "sanctuary" design with a nautilus shell theme to convey harmony and mathematical proportion. It features a functional pod with six "nests" surrounding it, each to include three exam rooms, an intake/homeopathy room, and a classroom. Colonic rooms and waiting area, a surgical procedure room, a therapy suite, and a hydrotherapy/anti-aging program were also planned. Additional features of note include infrared saunas, a healing garden, and ergonomic furnishings.

SCNM supported the use of "eco-effective" design principles that allowed for nontoxic building materials, increased air flow, special filtration, and full-spectrum lighting. The design envisions a facility that will optimize patient wellness through therapeutics. John Cantrell, Director of Design, stated, "It seemed appropriate that the new building take many of its design cues from forms found in nature."