When healthcare system ProMedica first envisioned the Icaria Longevity Institute at ProMedica’s Wildwood campus in Toledo, Ohio, the objective was clear: to establish a high-performance medical environment where health, longevity, and personalized care converge.
The renovation of an existing 2-story medical office building (MOB) within ProMedica’s Wildwood Medical Center campus into the Icaria Longevity Institute provided a blank canvas for reimagining how design can enhance health outcomes.
Through a highly collaborative process, designers, healthcare leaders, and clinicians worked together to ensure the architecture aligned with operational needs and patient expectations.
The project team, including PMBA Architects (architect of record and design lead; Perrysburg, Ohio), sought to deliver a supportive environment that reflects the philosophy of whole-person medicine and would feel welcoming like a boutique hotel or wellness retreat.
Patient-centered design strategies
Early workshops with ProMedica leadership, physicians, clinical staff, and the project planning team centered on defining the experience of wellness—what it should feel like to walk through the door, to engage with staff, and to move from testing to consultation to reflection.
These conversations translated into practical solutions: discreet circulation for staff and supplies, acoustic separation between active and quiet zones, and technology that balance clinical function with patient ease.
The building itself amplifies Icaria’s medical philosophy by organizing diagnostic, consultation, and wellness evaluation spaces in a way that supports a seamless, concierge-style patient experience. The layout allows patients to move efficiently through imaging, testing, and consultation areas during extended visits while maintaining privacy and comfort.
Three pillars define Icaria’s model:
- Precision diagnostics: Advanced magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) imaging examine the body millimeter by millimeter for early detection, making treatments more effective.
- Performance optimization: Comprehensive testing identifies specific accelerants of aging and guides a personalized plan to increase vitality and longevity.
- Advanced therapeutics: Innovative treatments, from peptides to stem-cell–related therapies, aim to slow or even reverse aspects of aging.
To support these services, diagnostic imaging suites—including a 3 Tesla MRI and CT scanner—are positioned near consultation spaces so physicians can review results with patients during the same visit.
Wellness evaluation and testing areas are also located nearby, allowing clinicians and specialists to conduct assessments and develop personalized care plans efficiently.
Hospitality inspired design for healthcare
Spaces are tailored for these longer visits through hospitality-inspired patient suites that include a private living area, a dedicated exam room, a private restroom with shower, and concierge coordination spaces.
This suite-based approach allows patients to remain in one comfortable setting while clinicians rotate through consultations, diagnostics, and evaluations, supporting a seamless and highly personalized care experience.
The two-level building layout separates diagnostic and clinical services on the main floor while dedicating the upper level to patient suites, consultation areas, and wellness support spaces.
Prioritizing biophilic design and natural light in healthcare
Furthermore, several guiding principles shaped the project’s design. A strong emphasis on transparency and natural light informed the creation of a striking two-story atrium, which was carved out by removing a large section of the existing second floor and executing significant structural reinforcements to support the new opening.
This intervention allowed a sculptural open stair and elevator to rise at the center of the space, establishing dedicated vertical circulation so patients can move between levels without entering shared corridors.
Biophilic design also played an important role in shaping the environment. For example, a living moss wall anchors the central stairs, introducing greenery and visual texture into the interior.
Natural elements such as these are known to lower blood pressure, improve focus, and foster calm—outcomes aligned with the facility’s focus on long-term wellness.
Integrating advanced technology with hospitality-inspired design
Finally, the design team worked to integrate advanced medical technology in a way that preserves the calm, hospitality-inspired character of the environment.
Diagnostic imaging, telemedicine suites, and laboratory functions are incorporated seamlessly into the architecture so that patients experience advanced care within a setting that feels welcoming rather than institutional.
Project lessons for wellness centers
Several lessons emerged from the Icaria Longevity Institute project through the planning, design, and implementation of the facility:
- Wellness is holistic. Early planning conversations with physicians and wellness specialists emphasized that longevity care extends beyond medical diagnostics to include emotional well-being. This led the design team to incorporate natural light, biophilic elements, and calming spaces such as the Serenity Room.
- Technology needs a human frame. Integrating advanced imaging technologies—including MRI, CT, and DEXA—require careful planning to balance clinical performance with patient comfort. The result is treatment spaces designed with warm materials, curved forms, and controlled lighting that soften the presence of complex medical equipment.
- Design is medicine. Research on evidence-based design and patient experience can inform decisions related to daylight, acoustics, and material selections throughout the facility. These strategies reinforce the idea that environmental conditions can influence stress levels and overall wellness.
- Collaboration creates innovation. The project’s most successful solutions emerged from close collaboration among client leadership, clinicians, and the design team. Together, this input helped shaped everything from the suite-based patient layout to the dedicated circulation that preserves privacy.
As the medical field advances toward longevity and proactive wellness, architecture will play a pivotal role in defining environments that inspire, comfort, and heal.
Craig Pickerel, AIA, ACHA, NCARB, EDAC, is CEO and principal architect of PMBA Architects (Perrysburg, Ohio) and can be reached at [email protected].
