Malls And Parking Garages As Hubs Of Care? Designers Offer Bold, Scalable Prototypes

Where others see empty strip malls and underused parking garages, the design team at Perkins&Will envisions vibrant community health hubs—complete with energy-generating trampolines and interactive wellness kiosks.

This year’s Phil Freelon Design Competition challenged participants to reimagine overlooked public spaces—like parking lots, strip malls, and playgrounds—as engines of public health. The results were both imaginative and grounded in practical solutions.

“We created this challenge to explore the future of health-oriented spaces,” said Casey Jones, Chief Design Officer at Perkins&Will. “By removing traditional constraints—no set site or building type—we encouraged bold, flexible designs that anticipate where care can go next.”

Winning Designs

1st Place: Rx Strip Mall: 200mg

A Washington, D.C.–based team transformed a typical strip mall into a modular, wellness-focused hub. Their design featured kiosks, outdoor fitness spaces, and elevated walkways—each fitting within the footprint of a parking spot. Judges praised its creative, scalable response to chronic health issues like obesity and asthma, noting its potential to impact over 68,000 strip malls across the U.S.

2nd Place: Flourish

Houston designers reimagined a sun-exposed elementary school playground as a green wellness zone, integrating gardening, outdoor play, and communal meals. The project blurs the line between health and education, with seasonal programming and strong community roots earning high marks from the jury.

3rd Place: Parkitecture

In Dallas, a parking garage was redesigned with modular sports courts, health stations, and coworking zones. By focusing on sunny outer areas and planning for long-term repurposing, the proposal addressed shifting urban needs and the decline in car dependency with practical foresight.

A Broader Vision Of Health

Across all submissions, common themes emerged: reclaiming public infrastructure, merging play and wellness, and rethinking car-centric spaces. Many projects emphasized intergenerational use, climate-conscious design, and preventative health.

“Health is shaped well before someone steps into a clinic,” noted Marie Henson, Perkins&Will’s global health practice leader. “This competition is about expanding our view of where care happens—and how design can help shape it.”

Juror Michael Murphy applauded the entries: “The submissions were deeply creative and well-resolved. It was an honor to witness such forward-thinking work.”

From Ideas to Impact

The competition serves as a creative testbed for Perkins&Will’s global healthcare practice.

“These concepts don’t replace traditional healthcare design—they enhance it,” said Henson. “We’re applying what we learn to design across the full spectrum—from hospitals to entire neighborhoods.”

Perkins&Will has published a full report showcasing all entries, complete with analysis and potential applications. Click here to read the report.

Source: Architect Magazine