Breast Imaging Center at Cedars-Sinai’s Marina del Rey Medical Towers, Marina del Rey, California
The Breast Imaging Center at Cedars-Sinai’s Marina del Rey Medical Towers in Marina del Rey, Calif., reflects a broader shift in healthcare toward more personalized, outpatient experiences.
Opened in summer 2024, the expansion converts a previously clinical office into a warm, hospitality-inspired setting that balances innovation with emotional well-being.
Located on the ground floor of the medical office building and adjacent to Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, the new center delivers a wellness-focused atmosphere for high-stakes care, such as mammograms, biopsies, and diagnostic imaging.
Interior design for healthcare clinics
Abramson Architects (Los Angeles) designed the reimagined space as a part of Cedars-Sinai’s larger strategy to meet patients where they are, both geographically and through the values and expectations of a younger, digitally native patient base.
This focus on accessibility and experience directly shaped the clinic’s layout, material palette, and integration of smart technologies to create a setting that feels welcoming, intuitive, and aligned with contemporary lifestyles.
Specifically, the design team introduced soft textures such as felted wallcoverings and upholstered millwork in the waiting areas and dressing rooms. Curated art installations, visible throughout patient-facing corridors and lounges, offer moments of visual interest without overwhelming the senses.
Lighting was carefully layered to avoid harsh contrasts, using warm color temperatures, integrated cove lighting, and decorative fixtures that create a residential feel.
Designing for patient navigation
Designed with today’s digital-native generation in mind, the Breast Imaging Center also blends leading-edge clinical innovation such as advanced mammography systems and AI-assisted imaging tools with a focus on tactile comfort.
Soft-touch materials like plush seating, textured wallcoverings, and smooth, natural finishes on key surfaces aim to make patients feel more at ease as they move through the center.
Patients transition from reception to private dressing rooms, located just outside the diagnostic suites to ensure comfort and discretion, before being escorted to imaging rooms, minimizing time spent in public zones. The check-in process is streamlined through digital intake stations and clearly defined pathways that reduce confusion and waiting.
Staff areas and circulation are tucked discreetly behind the patient zone, ensuring that workflows remain efficient without disrupting the clinic’s hospitality-like environment. Care teams are further supported by private offices and enclosed collaboration spaces with full-height windows, allowing for natural light and a degree of separation that supports focused work and team interaction.
Sustainable design in healthcare
A variety of strategies were employed to support Cedars-Sinai Health System’s commitment to resilient and sustainable building practices.
Natural daylighting and passive design strategies, including automated exterior shading and reflective solar film, help mitigate the challenges of existing single-pane glazing from the 1970s-era building.
Lighting throughout the center is managed by intelligent control systems that incorporate occupancy sensors, automated shading, and daylight harvesting to reduce energy use while enhancing the patient experience
Björn Schrader is partner at Abramson Architects (West Adams, Calif.) and can be reached at [email protected].
