How This Medical Facility Reimagines Elder Care In San Jose

2025 Best of Year Winner for Small Healthcare

This San Jose, California-based 45,000-square-foot facility by IA Interior Architects is a model of adaptive reuse. Located in the city’s Vietnam Town neighborhood, it transforms a vacant commercial shell into the North East Medical Services Program of All-Inclusive Care Center (NEMS PACE), an elder-care facility supporting its constituents’ medical, dental, pharmacy, and physical and occupational therapy needs. NEMS PACE also considers the cultural requisites of this population with touches like acupuncture stations, a meditation room, and—social connection being part of the nonprofit’s program—a media room for film screenings and karaoke. The design concept derives from an ancient Chinese philosophy meaning “all under heaven.” The centerpiece is a communal plaza, a formerly windowless space now capped by a skylight and conceived as a greenery-filled indoor park. Two-tone terrazzo flooring incorporates the Chinese character for “person,” while chestnut millwork lends biophilic warmth. Meanwhile, the entire setting is designed for calm, abetted by acoustic materials, abundant curves, and low-maintenance hypoallergenic plants. Wellness extends to the staff, too, with comfortable offices and a lounge giving views into the plaza. 

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RICHELLE NOLAN; KRISTOFER TENDALL; GARY BOUTHILLETTE; VICKI SALGADO; MICHELLE HOFFMAN; MICHELLE DEBRESTIAN; HEIDI MATTHEWS; DANIELLE VOGEL; RHONDA JENSEN.