The initial concept for the Center for Caring drew its inspiration from a typical center hall colonial home, which is found in most neighborhoods in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. We transformed this housing style using the “neighborhood” or “cluster” design concept based on Capital Caring Health’s seven-bed model to create both a less institutional design for interior spaces and reduce corridor lengths and walking distances for staff. This design helps maximize staff interaction with patients and reduces the financial resources expended for caregiving and service delivery.

The conceptual design focused on key goals specifically appropriate for a state-of-the-art inpatient hospice setting where a holistic approach to care is supported by the interplay of common areas, patient care accommodations, staff work areas, and family support spaces that enhance the daily lives of those who are cared for and work in the Center for Caring. The design goal was to support the mission of Capital Caring Health which is “to provide patients and their families with advanced illness care of the highest quality.”