The first multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to treating neuroimmune axis disorders.
Acclaimed interdisciplinary design firm HGA is excited to announce the completion of Metrodora Institute, a state-of-the-art medical and research center, located in Salt Lake City, Utah. HGA led the planning, engineering and design/build and was a consultant for the interior design and mechanical and electrical engineering for the Institute, which opened in April. Metrodora Institute is the first integrated multidisciplinary clinic in the United States, dedicated to advancing care and accelerating the path to improved diagnostics, therapeutics, and cures for those with neuroimmune axis disorders.
Neuroimmune axis disorders are complicated chronic illnesses that cause dysfunctional interactions across body systems including immune, nervous, endocrine, and gastrointestinal systems. There has been an increase in these disorders because of COVID-19, including long-COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and postural orthostatic tachycardi syndrome. Metrodora’s goal is for medical specialists to collaborate and apply scientific research and discovery directly to the patient care process in one facility.
A New Model in Healthcare
Metrodora plans to see approximately 20,000 patients annually and will offer each patient the opportunity to submit a collection of biological samples for research purposes. A new model in healthcare, the Institute will become the first biobank and high-density data repository with a focus on neuroimmune disorders.
Patients living with neuroimmune axis disorders typically face long diagnostic journeys. Metrodora will help mitigate this ordeal by offering multiple medical specialties in one facility. This will allow patients to receive more comprehensive testing to advance treatments, while helping to discover cures more quickly. Focused on the whole body, Metrodora provides neurology, immunology, and gastroenterology care with genetics, pain management, comprehensive rehabilitation programs, nutritional and neurocognitive therapies addressing patients’ care needs.
A Design Partnership
HGA designed the ambulatory surgery center located on two floors of the clinic. The firm also designed Metrodora’s workspaces, innovative research and pathology laboratories which will allow clinicians and scientists to work collaboratively and simultaneously on patient cases.
HGA’s project partner, Denton House, a locally based design and architecture firm focused on creating extraordinary guest experiences, was responsible for the interior design and served as the architect-of-record. Denton House designed a welcoming, amenity-rich setting, that transformed the healthcare experience into a comfortable, wellness hospitality space.
“Located in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley and surrounded by the exceptional views of the mountains, this 60,000-square-foot medical center is truly incomparable,” said Laura Pace, MD, PhD, CEO and Co-founder of Metrodora Institute. “HGA and Denton House meticulously designed an exceptional facility that redefines the patient-centered experience. Every component of the institute was designed in collaboration with our patient partners, from custom furniture and specialty lighting to our locally sourced café.”
“Natural light and spectacular views of the mountains were incorporated in every design aspect of the Institute, said Erin LaBrec, medical planner at HGA. She continued, “The building is surrounded by mountains on all four sides, and our objective was to maximize these beautiful views for the Metrodora staff and its patients no matter where they are in the building, even as they walk down the building’s hallways.”
Additional partners included construction manager, Wasatch Commercial and general contractor, Layton Construction.
About HGA
HGA is an acclaimed interdisciplinary design firm committed to making a positive, lasting impact for our clients and communities through research-based, holistic solutions. We believe that great design requires a sense of curiosity—forming deep insight into our clients, their contexts, and the human condition. We are a collective of over 1,000 architects, engineers, interior designers, planners, researchers, and strategists, with 13 offices. Our national practice spans multiple markets, including corporate, cultural, education, local and federal government, healthcare, and science and technology. Visit HGA.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About Denton House
Denton House is the devoted design arm of Areté Collective, a vertically integrated luxury development company based in Salt Lake City. With nearly three decades worth of expertise, Denton House has created bespoke designs and signature looks for clients both domestically and abroad in sought-after destinations such as Big Sky, Park City, New York, Los Cabos, Portugal, the Bahamas and beyond. Denton House currently has offices in Austin, Las Vegas and Cabo San Lucas, with a qualified team of experts committed to delivering seamless execution in the fields of architecture, interior design, planning, and landscape architecture. For more information, please visit dentonhouse.com.
About Metrodora Institute
Metrodora Institute is the first medical and research center dedicated to advancing care and accelerating cures for people living with complex neuroimmune axis disorders. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, the integrated multidisciplinary institute brings together world-class clinicians, scientists, and engineers under one roof – to maximize the impact of scientific discovery and rapidly translate research into better human health outcomes.
Metrodora’s comprehensive clinical programs integrate neurology, immunology and gastroenterology care with genomics, pain management, comprehensive rehabilitation programs, nutritional and neurocognitive therapies, and telehealth services to provide patient-centered care. Grounded in multidisciplinary collaboration, Metrodora is delivering a new blueprint for patient care, designed to break down silos between scientific research and medical practice. As the nonprofit arm of the Institute, the Metrodora Foundation is committed to catalyzing essential scientific research that will lead to the rapid discovery and development of cures for neuroimmune axis disorders. With direct access to the Institute’s engaged patient population and high-density biobank, the Metrodora Foundation makes this fundamental research infrastructure accessible to academic and biotech partners – propelling scientific discovery, treatment breakthroughs, ultimately, cures.