McKinney Family Health Center
The McKinney Family Health Center is a patient-centered medical home and community center delivering comprehensive, high-quality care to children, families, and individuals across North Texas.
Located in the rapidly growing community of McKinney, Texas, Family Health Center responds to critical gaps in healthcare, transportation, housing, and employment that have led to inequitable health outcomes for many McKinney residents. Established as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), the clinic provides integrated medical, behavioral, and dental care and meets rigorous standards for access, governance, quality, and affordability.
MASS collaborated with project partners, healthcare providers, and community members to design a space rooted in dignity, accessibility, and healing. The resulting concept draws inspiration from traditional Texan “Dogtrot” houses—structures made up of distinct buildings connected by a breezeway and shared roof. This model informed the layout of the center, where clinical departments are organized into clearly defined, standardized buildings, connected by warm and welcoming communal spaces. Creating a welcoming, homelike environment was key to encouraging utilization and reducing the stigma often associated with subsidized care.
In contrast to typical exam rooms, which frame patients as passive recipients of care, the Mckinney exam rooms are reconfigured to empower patients as active collaborators in care. The design helps foster face-to-face interaction, support the presence of family members, and build trusting relationships between patients and providers.
Standardized layouts support a team-based model of care, giving patients greater agency and enhancing staff efficiency. Waiting areas are flexible and inclusive, offering visitors the ability to work, relax, or socialize. A children’s play area supports family-centered care, while multipurpose rooms accommodate community programs like cooking classes and food distribution.
The McKinney Family Health Center opened its doors in January 2021, creating a space that prioritizes not just clinical care, but also the social determinants of health.
In 2023, MASS partnered with the North Texas Family Health Foundation and MillerKnoll to conduct a post-occupancy evaluation assessing how the design supports team-based care. Using surveys, collaborative working sessions, and space syntax analysis, the study found that standardized layouts enhanced clinical efficiency and staff collaboration.
Providers who circulate between pods reported that uniform layouts allowed them to rely on spatial memory, reducing time spent adjusting to new environments. These findings were shared at the 2023 Healthcare Design Conference in a session titled “When Should Standardization in Primary Care Clinic Design be Standard?”
Through thoughtful architecture and evidence-based design, the McKinney Family Health Center continues to improve access, support whole-person care, and strengthen community health across North Texas.
