Hans Rosling Center for Population Health



The University of Washington launched the Population Health Initiative (PHI) to address the most persistent and emerging challenges affecting human health. With a $210 million gift from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Hans Rosling Center for Population Health was commissioned as a new hub for scientist, researchers, and faculty to work together to address some of the world’s most significant health challenges like poverty, equity, health- care access, climate change and government policy. Many of the tenants are contributing to COVID- 19 national projections and response strategies, which further elevated the importance during the project.

Agency

Mayer/Reed, Inc.

Practice Area

Client

University of Washington

Industry

Blocks are inscribed with positive improvements (policy / scientific advancements) and influences(people / social movements) in health that were compiled by occupants and vetted by the DEI committee.

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Arranged from oldest at the bottom, ascending to present day and then aspirational blocks at the very top of the wall—visitors sense the breadth of influences.

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Introducing the Population Health Initiative, a 55-foot-long exhibit composed of wood boxes with printed fabric fronts for easy updating spans the corridors between the lobbies.

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Storytelling elements are integrated throughout the facility and speak to both the occupants’ mission, creating opportunities for education and inspiration. Quotes by Rosling grace the walls.

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Evidence based work is celebrated with a range of data – bar graphics, bubble diagrams and qualitative data such as images. Visitors are invited to explore links to real-time data.

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Color blocks ascend the office staircase, playfully shifting with transitioning interior colors on each floor and symbolically connecting all the tenants working toward the same mission.

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To reinforce collaboration and forward-thinking, an annual open house is planned to collect aspirations from those working on the Initiative. These will be added to the walls over time.

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  1. The Population Health Initiative (PHI) is symbolically introduced with 3, 2-story high feature walls composed of over 1,800 wood blocks representing the scale + complexity of the mission. Sally Painte

  2. Arranged from oldest at the bottom, ascending to present day and then aspirational blocks at the very top of the wall—visitors sense the breadth of influences.

    Sally Painter

  3. Storytelling elements are integrated throughout the facility and speak to both the occupants’ mission, creating opportunities for education and inspiration. Quotes by Rosling grace the walls.

  4. Evidence based work is celebrated with a range of data – bar graphics, bubble diagrams and qualitative data such as images. Visitors are invited to explore links to real-time data.

    Sally Painter

Project Details
Design Team

Kathy Fry (design director), Rob Wente, (project manager, lead designer), Margaret Drew, Elizabeth Lockwood, Sabrina Obeso, Debbie Shaw, Brian Stevens, Stefanie Warmouth, Cooper Williams, Alper Yurtseven (design support)

Collaborators

Waypoint Sign Company, Windfall Lumber, (fabricators), The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP (architect and interior design), Nice Touch (digital content), Lisa Freiman (art curator)

Photo Credits

Sally Painter

Open Date

October 2020