Veridian Wellness Clinics in Burnaby, BC, is a prime example of how interior design can turn a standard clinic into a soothing sanctuary. We completed the interior design (and construction management) for Veridian’s mental health clinic at 4211 Kingsway, focusing on clarity, comfort, and lasting relief for patients. This approximately 1,000 SF space, finished in 2025, was transformed from a purely functional office build-out into a warm, welcoming environment that supports mental health healing. By combining healthcare design principles with a cozy, nature-inspired aesthetic, we aimed to make every patient feel at ease from the moment they walk in.
Project Overview
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Location: 4211 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC
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Sector: Commercial Healthcare (Mental Health Clinic)
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Size: ~1,000 SF
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Completion: 2025
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Scope of Work: Interior Design and Construction Management
- Project URL: Veridian Wellness Clinic Interior Design
About the Client – Veridian Wellness Clinics
Veridian Wellness Clinics is a mental health care provider where treatment is centered on clarity, comfort, and lasting relief. The Veridian team works closely with patients to identify the root causes of mental health challenges and develop science-backed, personalized treatment plans for meaningful healing. With such a patient-focused mission, the clinic’s physical environment needed to embody warmth and reassurance. Veridian’s vision was a space that doesn’t feel like a sterile medical office, but rather a calming, supportive haven for patients on their healing journey.
Design Goals and Challenges
When we came on board, the clinic’s layout and basic finishes were already in place from a recent build-out – the space was functional but lacked character. The key challenge was to infuse warmth, comfort, and a sense of calm into this blank canvas, without major structural changes. Our primary goal was to transform both the waiting area and the treatment rooms into inviting, restorative environments that reduce patient anxiety. In a mental health clinic, it’s essential that the design helps patients feel welcome, safe, and relaxed. We set out to use interior design elements to create a soothing atmosphere, improve acoustics for privacy, and incorporate touches of nature for a more healing ambiance.
Design Solutions & Highlights
Biophilic and Welcoming Waiting Area
In the reception and waiting area, we focused on making patients feel at ease as soon as they enter. We introduced a custom built-in bench with warm wood detailing, complemented by lush indoor foliage and greenery. This design approach brings the feeling of a garden indoors, immediately adding life and softness to the clinical space. The combination of natural wood textures and real plants is a classic biophilic design strategy – it creates a connection to nature that can help reduce stress and make the environment more approachable for visitors. To further enhance the mood, we implemented soft, indirect mood lighting throughout the waiting area. Gentle wall sconces and hidden LED cove lights cast a warm glow without the harshness of direct overhead lights, bathing the space in a calm, inviting light. This ambient lighting strategy reduces eye strain and anxiety, encouraging visitors to relax while they wait. (In fact, incorporating natural elements and gentle lighting in interior spaces is known to promote well-being and reduce stress.)
Soothing Treatment Rooms with Acoustic Comfort
For the private treatment rooms, our design priority was to create a soothing, intimate atmosphere conducive to therapy sessions. We added texture and depth to the previously plain walls by installing acoustic wall panels with an attractive fabric finish. These panels serve a dual purpose: they act as a subtle design feature and significantly improve sound control. By dampening noise, the acoustic panels ensure that conversations in each therapy room remain confidential and free from outside distractions – an essential aspect of patient privacy and comfort. We also introduced dimmable, indirect lighting in each treatment room, including soft pendant fixtures and adjustable lamps. This allows therapists to fine-tune the lighting levels for various activities, from calm conversation to note-taking, and helps avoid the clinical feel of standard fluorescent lights. The dimmable, warm lighting combined with the sound-absorbing panels creates a cocoon-like environment where patients can feel safe, focused, and at ease. The overall effect is a private haven within each room, encouraging a deeper sense of relaxation and trust during counseling sessions.
A Healing Environment – Outcome
Through thoughtful interior design and careful construction management, Veridian Wellness Clinics now provides a physical space that actively supports its therapeutic mission. The once impersonal office has been transformed into a calming wellness clinic that feels less like a medical facility and more like a comfortable living room or serene garden. Natural elements – from the custom wood bench to the greenery – work together with soft lighting to humanize the waiting area, setting a reassuring tone for newcomers. In the treatment rooms, improved acoustics and personalized lighting control help both patients and practitioners feel more comfortable and focused, enhancing the effectiveness of therapy.
This project demonstrates how healthcare interior design can profoundly impact patient experience. By prioritizing warmth, privacy, and a connection to nature, we created an environment where patients feel welcome and relaxed, and clinicians can deliver care in a tranquil setting. The new Veridian Wellness clinic in Burnaby stands as a testament to design’s power in healthcare: a carefully crafted space that promotes healing, one detail at a time. (Take a look at the photos and video below to see how these design elements come together to create a sanctuary of wellness.)
Whitney is currently the Co-Founder and Creative Director for Ark and Mason Interior Design in Vancouver, BC. She expert in commercial interior design and construction management.
