The Gresham Smith–designed Cooper Green Mercy Health Ambulatory Care Facility has received a National Healthcare Design Award in the Ambulatory — Specialty Clinic category from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). The project team will be honored at a celebration on Thursday, Nov. 13, at IIDA headquarters in Chicago.
The five-story, 210,000-square-foot ambulatory care center in Birmingham, Alabama, replaces an outdated 1970s-era facility. The new center integrates 18 clinics offering primary, specialty, and supportive services—including urgent care, imaging, dental, rehab, lab, behavioral health, and wellness programs—to improve access to preventative care and social services all under one roof. The space’s flexible, multidisciplinary layout fosters collaboration among providers while enhancing patient experiences and health outcomes for underserved populations.
As an homage to a handmade quilt gifted to Cooper Green in recognition of the centennial of indigent care in Alabama, the design draws inspiration from the multi-generational connections and storytelling traditions associated with quilting. An extensive local art collection and a colorful, multi-dimensional mural in the main lobby weave stories of the Birmingham community throughout the building, reinforcing authenticity and a strong sense of place. The facility both honors the center’s legacy and strengthens its mission of providing high-quality healthcare to those in need.
“This project is deeply meaningful to our team and to the Birmingham community it serves,” said Erin McCullar Griffo, IIDA, LEED AP, EDAC. “We’re thrilled to be recognized by IIDA for this work. Our goal was to create a space that not only delivers exceptional care but also promotes dignity, connection, and long-term wellness.”
This achievement represents back-to-back recognition for Gresham Smith at the IIDA National Healthcare Design Awards. In 2024, the firm received top honors for its work on the Methodist Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital CVICU Expansion and the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion—projects that exemplify Gresham Smith’s commitment to human-centered healthcare design, enhancing well-being and supporting clinical excellence.
Now in its 14th year, the IIDA Healthcare Design Awards honor creativity, innovation, and design excellence across 15 categories, including Ambulatory, Extended Care and Assisted Living, and Hospital Facilities. A jury of healthcare design professionals selects projects that demonstrate exceptional quality and measurable impact.
