Designing with Heart: Seen Health Center Blends Cultural Warmth and Clinical Care

Case study: The Alhambra-based facility uses Wilsonart Woodgrains to create a space where comfort, tradition and durability come together for an elevated senior care experience.

By HFT Staff


The Seen Health Center in Alhambra, California, exemplifies a transformative approach to healthcare design. Brothers Xing and Yang Su left Silicon Valley after caring for their aging grandparents, realizing an opportunity to improve the experience for others. With a vision of blurring the lines between clinical care and comfort, the team curated a palette of soft, tactile materials and subtle, warm hues, resulting in a space that feels like an extension of home. It’s an ideal setting for Wilsonart Woodgrains, where authentic residential warmth meets the durability and cleanability required for care. 

Under the guidance of project director Ziad Khan from Langdon Wilson International, the design team channeled empathy and pragmatism to realize this dream. The team kept coming back to the extensive Wilsonart portfolio, featuring woodgrains that fit their aesthetic perfectly. Balancing durability, functionality, and a real wood look and feel, it brought the ideal combination of style and performance. 

Related Content: How Designers Create Welcoming Senior Care Communities

Throughout the facility, lead interior designer Rana Desar and lead architectural designer Armin Emami championed warm wood tones to foster a sense of familiar comfort and grounded serenity. 

This design approach is also heavily influenced by Seen Health’s mission to serve the seniors of Alhambra, a predominantly Asian community. Khan explains that incorporating cultural motifs was essential to his process.  

Khan proudly states, “We embraced symbols of longevity and wisdom, like the circular motif in the day room inspired by the Chinese circle of life. Blue pops of color are also interwoven with Chinese latticework on specific walls.” 

Choosing Wilsonart Woodgrains allowed the design team to honor this vision without compromise. Durable laminate woodgrains transform the center into a welcoming place where residents feel at home, seamlessly blending flexibility, functionality and authentic warmth.



October 30, 2025


Topic Area: Interior Design


Recent Posts

Building Envelope Design: Beyond Energy Efficiency

An integrated approach to envelope design can create more comfortable and energy-efficient hospitals.


Outpatient Surge Reshapes Long-Term Strategy for Medical Outpatient Buildings

Demographic tailwinds, policy uncertainty and shifting care models are pushing health systems to rethink how and where they invest in outpatient facilities.


Mercy Medical Center to Be Integrated into Baystate Health

Until the transition is complete and receives all regulatory approvals, Mercy Medical Center and Baystate Health will continue to operate independently.


Managing IAQ in Healthcare Facilities During Wildfires

Wildfires are becoming more prevalent across the country. Facilities must be prepared to handle their effects on air quality. 


Building Hospital Resilience in an Era of Extreme Weather

Expert Jennifer Mahan discusses the vulnerabilities healthcare facilities face during disasters and the infrastructure strategies that keep operations running.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.