The idea of a safe space took on a new meaning for Houston's Legacy Community Health. The organization's clinics have been a judgment-free zone for LGBTQA+ patients since 1978. Then the pandemic struck, just as the healthcare company began consolidating its administrative offices from three locales to one.
Move-in was July 2021. Legacy and its partner, Kirksey Architecture, kept true to their original vision for the $1.4 million transformation of the 67,500-square-foot, three-floor headquarters.
"We wanted it to be inviting, fun and functional," says Joel Kalmin, Legacy's director of facility design.
To that end, "Legacy is not afraid of color," says Stacey Concienne, associate VP at Kirksey. The color scheme is inspired by the rainbow, a symbol of inclusion of all races, religions and cultures. The building's top floor-where visitors enter-is awash in maroon, purple, lavender and fuchsia.
Kirksey painted and furnished the middle floor- home to the central breakroom-in shades of teal, cobalt and chartreuse. The bottom floor, where training, brainstorming and teambuilding occur, has orange and earth tones.
"Paint is cost-effective, potent and practical," Concienne says.
She and Kalmin credit Staples for finding the right furnishings so 500 staffers can go from function to function throughout the day.
"Kirksey, Staples and I have been partners for years," Kalmin says. "They understand my design language."
Much of the budget was devoted to diner booths, traditional desks and more than 60 club chairs on casters to meet the needs of a team that considers itself like family. Not even the CEO or chief medical officers have private offices.
