Photography by Gerry O’Leary.
From an established food depository and a paradigm-changing healthcare facility in the U.S. to a Saudi Arabian rehabilitation center, these projects by top firms support the public good.
Building Community From The U.S. to Saudi Arabia
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Data Center + Conference + Medical Simulation Facility by Gensler
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Photography by Jim Steinkamp.
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Photography by Jim Steinkamp.
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Photography by Jim Steinkamp.
At Nationwide’s downtown campus, currently undergoing a $12 billion expansion, the pioneering 87,000-square-foot, four-story building in Columbus, Ohio, brings together a data center with enterprise-level computing power, a multipurpose conference facility, and state-of-the-art medical simulation laboratories under one roof. A first-of-its-kind hybrid prototype, it reimagines the traditionally insular data center as a vibrant, community-focused hub for AI-driven healthcare research, education, and innovation. The lower floors host dynamic learning spaces, including a 300-seat meeting room and flexible simulation areas, while the upper levels balance high-security data operations with visual porosity through a custom fritted-glass facade. Encircled by a public plaza and gardens, the building merges technology, training, and accessibility, setting a new standard for healthcare infrastructure.
Interested in learning more about Interior Design’s 2025 Giants of Design? Check out our report for Top 100 Giants and Rising Giants, with more to come.
Almoosa Rehabilitation Hospital by HDR
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Photography by Gerry O’Leary.
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Photography by Gerry O’Leary.
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Photography by Gerry O’Leary.
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Photography by Gerry O’Leary.
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Photography by Gerry O’Leary.
Comprising two interconnected structures—a three-story rehab center dedicated to various therapeutic programs and a 15-story tower housing inpatient rooms and specialized-care units—the 610,000-square-foot facility aims to break away from the institutional feel of traditional hospitals providing long-term rehabilitation, mental-health, neurology, and sports-medicine services. Inspired by the region of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia’s landscape, screens adapt parametrically to shade the building, evoking the movement of desert sands. Access to nature is key to healing, so inpatient floors include personalized gardens and green spaces, ensuring this connection for everyone, irrespective of mobility. A varied palette of wood, stone, and glass—plus a two-story slide for staff—help to create an environment that bridges the gap between hospital and hospitality.
The Blake School Early Learning Center by HGA
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Photography by Kendall McCaugherty.
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Photography by Kendall McCaugherty.
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Photography by Kendall McCaugherty.
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Photography by Kendall McCaugherty.
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Photography by Kendall McCaugherty.
Conceived to inspire a sense of wonder and joy in its 165 students, prekindergarteners through first-graders, this 35,000-square-foot facility in Hopkins, Minnesota, reflects the Reggio Emilia pedagogical approach, fostering children’s curiosity and creativity through active engagement with their environment. The building itself is a teaching tool, with each of its three levels representing field, forest, or treetops. Biophilic strategies—including mass-timber construction, an organic-based palette, and carefully integrated daylight—help build connections to the natural world, while every classroom has direct outside access, reinforcing indoor-outdoor learning. As Minnesota’s first all-electric, fossil fuel–free school, Blake integrates sustainable practices such as on-site stormwater management, shaping responsible global citizens through climate-conscious design.
Greater Chicago Food Depository by Partners by Design
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Photography by Tom Harris Architectural Photography.
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Photography by Spark Chicago.
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Photography by Tom Harris Architectural Photography.
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Photography by Tom Harris Architectural Photography.
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Photography by Tom Harris Architectural Photography.
A 38,000-square-foot expansion allows for increasing food-processing capabilities and moving from direct food donations to prepared meal production. The Chicago facility can now provide more than 30,000 meals per day for vulnerable populations, including older adults, people with disabilities, and those on medically tailored diets. The expansion also includes improved parking for trucks and staff, a hydroponic garden, and a redesigned lobby that fosters a sense of pride and reinforces the mission of the organization, founded in 1979. A focal point in the reception area is a statement fixture by K2 Lighting, inspired by the new GCFD logo, symbolizing growth and inclusivity, while environmental branding by Spark Chicago celebrates donors and the broader community.
Sunnyvale City Hall by SmithGroup
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Photography by Anthony L. Lindsey.
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Photography by Anthony L. Lindsey.
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Photography by Anthony L. Lindsey.
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Photography by Anthony L. Lindsey.
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Photography by Anthony L. Lindsey.
Seamlessly integrating workspaces with the natural environment, the 120,000-square-foot, four-story civic building in Sunnyvale, California, features calm, luminous interiors warmed by the extensive use of wood and brightened by abundant windows, skylights, and terraces. A mass-timber curtain wall of interlocking laminated Douglas fir replaces conventional aluminum mullions while also serving as an interior finish. Rising through all levels, the central stair is both a powerful sculptural element evoking the organic form of a tree and a catalyst for movement and interaction, promoting health and inviting exploration. Achieving this biomorphic aesthetic while meeting stringent seismic standards required innovative engineering and technological ingenuity, including laminating timber into a double-curving top rail and threading wire through the structural steel plate for the handrail light.