Inova Health Center – Oakville, Alexandria, Virginia
In 2020, Inova Health System (Inova; Falls Church, Va.) set out to define a new architectural identity, operational standard, and patient experience across its network. Inova Health Center – Oakville, a 4-story, 100,000-square-foot ambulatory care center in Alexandria, Va., represents the first phase of that multicampus initiative.
The project was completed in October 2024 and submitted to the 2026 Healthcare Design Showcase by Ballinger (Philadelphia) and Ennead Architects (New York). The building stacks a 24-hour freestanding emergency department, imaging, café, and conference space off a Level 1 Commons; an ambulatory surgery center on Level 2; and primary and multispecialty care on the remaining two floors.
Transferable design kit for health system expansion
To ensure the new design standards could be replicated across multiple Inova sites, the project team developed a transferable kit of parts, including exterior and interior elements, materiality, room modules, wayfinding, millwork, and furniture.
A cohesive design language is expressed through soft-curving forms and hickory wood veneer. The curves appear in exterior masonry wrapped around the building’s threshold and in a wood veneer entrance canopy. The wood look extends inside as curved wall and ceiling elements in both public and clinical spaces. Paired with terrazzo flooring, the materials create a harmonious, hospitality-inspired feel while meeting healthcare cleanability requirements.
Community-focused healthcare space planning
The light-filled, double-height Commons functions as the building’s heart and social center. Accessible from the street and connected to upper floors by an open stair, the space features a multipurpose room for community events such as yoga, birthing classes, and nutrition talks.
Jurors appreciated the project’s integrated and scalable design approach. “The form language carries seamlessly from exterior to interior, creating a unified design experience,” one juror noted.
For more coverage of the 2026 Healthcare Design Showcase, go here.
Find updates and additional information on the 2026 HCD Conference + Expo here.
