National pediatric and maternal health provider Mednax acquired Houston-area NightLight Pediatric Urgent Care in March 2021. The deal will fuel NightLight’s plans to expand across Texas and into surrounding states. The team of AMB Architects, EBE Engineers, and Meridian Constructors delivered NightLight’s existing eight clinics. As a part of Mednax, NightLight will offer a pediatric total care model going forward; the new clinics will provide prenatal services, pediatric primary care, high-risk newborn healthcare, telehealth, and the urgent/acute care NightLight became known for.
The aggressive expansion calls for at least ten new locations per year for the next three years. NightLight brought AMB to the table early to be a part of preliminary planning and lease negotiations. This early involvement will help streamline the design process and set a realistic annual construction budget.
AMB and the MEP engineer EBE reviewed and ensured specific language is included in NightLight’s Landlord Workletter to confirm they are being provided adequate building services.
AMB put together an aesthetic marketing pitchbook and renders for their investors to see NightLight’s vision for the expansion of future facilities.
To determine the amount of space required for the additional practice areas such as Primary Care, AMB provided preliminary programing and preliminary test fits. This also helped them determine which existing location can expand and which need to be relocated.
AMB is currently in the process of making a design guide of the new standards, such as room sizes, equipment lists, medical room requirements, and millwork (cabinet) standards. This will help with communication should AMB need to partner with other architects outside of Texas. From day one, new team members will understand the standards required, and it won’t feel like the relationship is starting from ground zero.
The NightLight team is actively identified potential sites for new clinics. AMB has visited multiple sites to determine what scope of work would be required to assess the financial viability per the new design scope based on the existing conditions.
Working closely as a partner with NightLight CEO Zawadi Bryant for the past 7 years has allowed our design and construction team to dig in and intimately know their operational goals and their work culture. Their aesthetic approach is all about patient experience. The design aesthetic focuses on kid-friendly touches, warm inviting entry with pops of color, and soothing nature-inspired finishes, all to put kids and their families at ease. It will be exciting to see how the company grows in Houston and beyond.
