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Contact Information: Joe Corliss 12300 Twinbrook Parkway Suite 610 Rockville, MD 20852 (301) 443-1046 jcorliss@hqe.ihs.gov Activity: Architectural Keyword: Pod Design, Hexagonal Concept Background: The Health Center is organized into three hexagonal pods connected in-line by two narrower elements. Public reception areas are located at the center of the pods with the medical and support departments around the pod perimeter. The resulting mall effect is esthetically pleasing but is not entirely successful in terms of interdepartmental relationships and patient and staff flow patterns. Lessons Learned: Building plans and layout should be determined by the functional needs of the program and not external factors such as predetermined pods of structural limitations. Recommended Action: Early design reviews must consider the program needs and convey this requirement to the designer. Alternate layouts and consideration of departmental interrelationships should lead to an optimal solution. Location: Warm Springs Health and Wellnes Center-Warm Springs, OR Program: OEHE/DFMHQE Date: 07/13/2001