River People Health Center
2024 Crescordia Award RecipientsRiver People Health Center is a 197,670 sf, three-story outpatient clinic on Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) land. Funded by the Indian Health Service, this facility serves members of all indigenous American tribes while showcasing the Pima and Maricopa Indian tribal cultures. The building design is organized around a series of large concrete monoliths that align views and building entries to the mountain peaks that the community considers sacred. Rainwater is collected and directed from the rooftops, over the symbol embossed concrete walls, and into vegetated bioswales to provide water to the plants and recall the community’s ancient canals built throughout the valley. The detailing of the clinic recalls symbols, building elements, and construction techniques of historical dwellings and shade structures, as well as art, pottery and basketry of their ancestors who initially settled in the area. The project is currently tracking LEED Silver, with the possibility for Gold.