NYCH+H Wellness Rooms
WXY architecture + urban design
2023-2024
In 2022, the CDC reported nearly half of healthcare workers felt burned out, signaling a growing mental health crisis. The WHO has labeled burnout a “disease of the 21st century,” and OSHA recently classified workplace stress as a hazard. In response, NYC’s public hospital system—the largest municipal healthcare network in the U.S.—prioritized wellness by creating Wellness Rooms to support overburdened staff, especially post-COVID. The $1 million project, funded mainly through philanthropic contributions, took 2.5 years to complete. Wellness Rooms, ranging from 250 to 2,000 square feet, were thoughtfully designed with high-quality furniture, calming lighting, artificial plants, and aesthetic elements such as wall graphics and curated art. These spaces serve as centralized hubs for staff to relax, connect with colleagues, access wellness resources, and participate in peer support/wellness programs. They provide much-needed reprieve from the stresses of demanding shifts.
The project’s success relied on deep collaboration at every stage. WXY engaged hospital staff through surveys to ensure the design reflected their needs and preferences. WXY worked with the NYC Health + Hospitals H3 (Helping Healers Heal) Program to design spaces tailored to user needs. The process involved extensive surveys, with 800+ NYCHH staff contributing feedback. Leadership and facilities staff also guided design decisions to ensure the spaces met functional and emotional needs.
The initiative began with pilots at Bellevue and Woodhull Hospitals in 2022, paving the way for 18 additional spaces for transformation. Since the completion of all 20 rooms in September 2024, staff have reported improved morale, social resilience, and greater access to stress management resources. The rooms have become integral to NYCHH’s mission of normalizing mental health care and promoting wellness, establishing a sustainable model for supporting healthcare workers.
New York, NY
The project’s success relied on deep collaboration at every stage. WXY engaged hospital staff through surveys to ensure the design reflected their needs and preferences. WXY worked with the NYC Health + Hospitals H3 (Helping Healers Heal) Program to design spaces tailored to user needs. The process involved extensive surveys, with 800+ NYCHH staff contributing feedback. Leadership and facilities staff also guided design decisions to ensure the spaces met functional and emotional needs.
The initiative began with pilots at Bellevue and Woodhull Hospitals in 2022, paving the way for 18 additional spaces for transformation. Since the completion of all 20 rooms in September 2024, staff have reported improved morale, social resilience, and greater access to stress management resources. The rooms have become integral to NYCHH’s mission of normalizing mental health care and promoting wellness, establishing a sustainable model for supporting healthcare workers.
New York, NY