“Space is never neutral.
The way we design birth, and healthcare spaces generally, reflects what we value—how we center families' voices and choices, how we harmonize safety and dignity, and how we honor culture and identity.”
– NBC Architect Amie Shao, MASS Design Group
Envisioned as a sanctuary for care, Neighborhood Birth Center is being designed to feel like home—warm, inviting, and deeply rooted in the cultural identities of the communities it serves. Each birth suite opens onto a private garden, providing natural light, fresh air, and tranquility. Rooms are equipped with large beds, soaking tubs, and birthing slings to support a wide range of preferences and labor positions; complemented by shared family support and gathering spaces. Finishes and furnishings are intentionally selected to evoke softness, safety, and care—incorporating warm wood accents, textiles, and culturally resonant artwork to create a healing environment grounded in trauma-informed design.
This is more than a facility.
We are creating a clinical home — a place where individuals and families are supported through pregnancy, birth, parenting, and beyond. Our work is grounded in the communities we serve and intentionally centers those too often excluded from the design of health care spaces: People of color, families, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, youth, and low-income communities. We hold true that everyone deserves to feel a sense of belonging, in labor and birth and across the entire lifespan.
“When I enter, I hear the gentle hum of a fire in the fireplace, trickling water from a water feature, [and] people quietly gathering in the meeting space, etc. The air smells nice (clean, not overpowering, but noticeable). The mood is calming and transportive - I immediately feel grounded and can breathe deeper upon entering. The light through the windows/doors casts beautiful shadows on the walls. The space feels airy yet cozy. There are teas and snacks easily accessible, and places to put your shoes and jackets. The images of birthing people show a variety of bodies and abilities. The rooms are soundproofed to provide a quiet and serene environment for labor.”
-Participant in a community design workshop