Mercy Coletta Building Wins IIDA’s Best in City Center

Mercy’s Coletta Building, designed by REES, won the International Interior Design Association’s Best in City Center award for Oklahoma City. The Best in City Center award recognizes design projects for excellence in interior design and architecture.

REES worked with Mercy to design the Coletta Building, the first center in Oklahoma City to combine cancer and breast services. The 142,500-square foot, three-story facility also serves as an active research center, pioneering innovations in early detection and cancer treatment. Take a virtual tour.

Mercy and REES engaged a patient advisory group to the help advise during the design of the state-of-the-art facility. The team consisted of cancer survivors, current cancer patients and family members who cared for loved ones. The completed design featured simplified wayfinding, varied options for infusion treatments and calming interiors.

Every part of the infusion center was designed with the patient’s comfort in mind. The treatment area offers both private and social spaces allowing patients to choose a setting that fits their desire. Healing gardens line the building’s exterior offering family members and patients breathing space between treatments and consultations.

The open, two-story lobby creates an environment of comfort and warmth. When entering the lobby, visitors are drawn to the inviting, enlarged staircase. Encouraging stair use instead of an elevator is one of the many ways the building subtly promotes a healthy lifestyle. Etched scripture cover glass throughout the building to encourage those who see it.

REES CEO Allan Parr, REES Designer McKenzie Gamez, and IIDA TX OK Chapter President Amanda Meininger 

The Mercy Coletta Building offers a variety of other services including: on-site genetic counseling and cancer risk assessments, gourmet food services from an on-site café, creative therapies like music and art, an in-house demonstration kitchen where dieticians offer weekly and private consultations and a series of classes designed to transition survivors back into life after finishing treatment.

The Mercy Coletta Building is dedicated to the life and legacy of Sister Mary Coletta Massoth who lost her own battle with the disease. Opening a cancer center on the Mercy campus in Oklahoma City was her vision and the facility honors her vision, tenacity and commitment to bringing healthcare to all.

REES was founded in Oklahoma City in 1975 with a focus on healthcare architecture. Since then the firm has grown to more than 60 employees between its offices in Oklahoma and Texas and expanded the types of projects it works on. In addition to healthcare, REES works on a broad range of corporate commercial, education, multifamily and senior living projects.