For more than 50 years, Family Tree Clinic has provided reproductive and sexual health services to underserved populations—from part of an old schoolhouse, until recently. Designed by Perkins&Will, the new Family Tree Clinic, which serves the LGBTQ community in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, now can serve an additional 10,000 patients a year.
In addition to providing reproductive and sexual health services to the uninsured and under-insured, Family Tree Clinic offers comprehensive outreach education services statewide, focusing on health and sex education in schools, community settings, colleges, and correctional facilities. The organization also offers health education for the deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing.
Of the clinic’s clients, 55 percent are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), 60 percent are LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning), and 70 percent live below the poverty line. These individuals had faced long waiting lists and barriers to medical care.
In 2017, Family Tree launched a plan for a new and improved facility. The building serves two main purposes: a welcoming oasis for patients, staff, and community members, and a safe, private, trauma-informed place of respite. On the first floor, the community and staff spaces are surrounded by glass, welcoming visitors inside. A protected courtyard provides outdoor respite for staff and community as well as daylight for the interior public spaces. Meanwhile, the clinic is located on the second floor toward the back of the building, ensuring privacy.
The structure’s simple brick volume matches the neighborhood’s scale and material pattern. The design team carefully chose materials that indicated permanence in the community. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists from the community covered the building with murals that express the power of healing.
On the Building Team:
Owner: Family Tree Clinic
Owner’s representative: Grand Real Estate Advisors
Design architect: Perkins&Will
Architect of record: Perkins&Will
MEP engineer: Victus Engineering
Structural engineer: BKBM Engineers
General contractor/construction manager: Greiner Construction
![Family Tree Clinic ext 2](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Family%20Tree%20Clinic%20ext%202.jpg)
![Family Tree int](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Family%20Tree%20int.jpg)
![Family Tree int 2](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Family%20Tree%20int%202.jpg)
![Courtesy Perkins&Will](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Family%20Tree%20ext%203.jpg)
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 15, 2019
Can a kids’ healthcare space teach, entertain, and heal?
Standard building requirements don’t have to be boring. Here’s how you can inject whimsical touches into everyday design features.
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 15, 2019
Hospitals are moving into their communities
Below are five strategies to improve access and patient experience.
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 9, 2019
Tampere psychiatric clinic features a modern, locally rooted ambiance for patients and staff
C.F. Møller Architects is designing the project.
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 2, 2019
Veterans' mental health needs are central to Seattle VA's design
Called the Seattle Veterans Affairs Mental Health and Research Building, the structure is meant to enhance patient care.
Healthcare Facilities | May 24, 2019
Beyond the corner store: Where retail health is headed
New players are redefining what retail health might look like by embracing technologies including mobile apps, telehealth, and artificial intelligence.
Healthcare Facilities | May 16, 2019
ASU Health Futures Center combines a novel design and approach to learning
The trapezoidal shape of the building is an eco-friendly feature.
Healthcare Facilities | May 9, 2019
Construction of new children’s hospital addition in NW Florida had to weather several storms
Patient and staff care were primary concerns during this 25-month project, says its GC.
Healthcare Facilities | May 3, 2019
The healthcare sector is turning to drones to supplement medical services
Leo A Daly’s Miami studio envisions a drone-powered hospital that enhances resilience to natural disasters.
| Apr 26, 2019
Greenwich Hospital upgrades boilers to improve operational efficiency
Greenwich Hospital, in Greenwich, Conn., chooses new Miura boilers.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 15, 2019
It’s official: China opens first green hospital, designed by HMC Architects
Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University is the official pilot green hospital for development of China’s green guide for hospital design.