CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON INNOVATIVE LPA-DESIGNED TRIBAL HEALTH VILLAGE FACILITY

New Redding Rancheria facility designed by 2025 AIA Architecture Firm Award honoree will alter the paradigm of healthcare for the tribe by combining advanced medical practices with holistic health and wellness resources.

IRVINE, Calif., April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Redding Rancheria recently broke ground on a new 190,000-square-foot health village, marking a milestone in a multi-year collaboration with LPA Design Studios to develop a new type of health and wellness facility to address the historical challenges facing indigenous tribes.

The three-story Redding Rancheria Tribal Health Village in South Redding will be the largest of its kind in California and a major step toward improving the health of the descendants of the Pit River, Wintu and Yana people. The combination health and recreation center will offer a continuum of care and focus on whole-person health rarely found in tribal communities.

"This health village is not just about treatment; it's about transformation," said Glen Hayward, executive director of health services for the Redding Rancheria Tribal Health System, at a ceremony marking the groundbreaking. "It will focus on whole body wellness, integrated nutrition, behavioral health and preventative care."

LPA's multi-discipline, multi-practice team worked with Redding Rancheria to create a facility that supports the tribe's proactive approach to the challenges facing its members. Scheduled to open in 2027, the health and wellness village will take a broad strategy to elevating community wellness and generating better long-term outcomes for patients, while preserving the tribe's culture and beliefs.

"Redding Rancheria is taking a holistic approach to addressing the historical challenges facing the health and success of Native Americans," said LPA Director of Healthcare Muhsin Lihony. "This new facility is designed as a resource for generations, reflecting Redding Rancheria's unique needs and heritage."

LPA design teams are working nationwide with tribal groups like Redding Rancheria who are determined to correct the trajectory of their community's health and well-being. They are investing time, money and labor to develop a new generation of multipurpose health and wellness centers to address mental health, poverty, addiction, food security and other daily challenges facing indigenous communities.

The need for better, more holistic care for indigenous peoples is stark. Redding Rancheria tribal members live on average to their 50s, according to the tribe's own research. That compares to an average life expectancy of 77.5 years for all people in the United States, according to the CDC. According to statistics from the Indian Health Service, Native Americans are 50 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white individuals to be obese, which can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

"Native Americans have higher rates of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, unintentional deaths, suicides," said Tracy Edwards, chief executive officer of Redding Rancheria, at the ceremony. "This health village is going to change that."

The new facility in South Redding will be devoted to primary care, behavioral health and dentistry. It will also feature community health, physical therapy, fitness training, senior nutrition and rehab services, access to indoor and outdoor natatoriums, a multi-purpose gymnasium, an indoor running track, and studios for yoga and fitness classes.

The facility will also include a demonstration kitchen where members can take nutrition classes and learn how to prepare healthier meals. Other community spaces will host programs on parenting, caring for the elderly and behavioral health/addiction counseling.  With a focus on holistic wellness, doctors can write prescriptions that include exercise classes, swimming and yoga.

The design was a collaborative effort across LPA's practices, including an exploration of the tribe's values and culture. LPA's landscape architecture team helped develop active outdoor environments, walking trails, an indoor-outdoor auditorium and community gardens, while the Sport + Rec team integrated the aquatic and recreation elements with the healthcare resources.

"This facility will serve as a model for tribes looking to fundamentally change the health of their community members," Lihony said. "Across the country, LPA is focused on partnering with indigenous people to create facilities that improve their longevity, bring their communities together, and reflect their heritage."

About LPA
LPA is a multi-discipline firm focused on collaboration, inclusion and an integrated design process that connects building performance and design excellence. Founded in 1965, the firm's mission is to deliver timeless, sustainable designs that benefit the environment, generate lasting value, enrich the human experience and ensure a better future. With seven studios in California and Texas, LPA's team includes more than 500 in-house architects, master planners, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and research analysts, working across a wide array of sectors. In 2025, LPA was honored with the national AIA Architecture Firm Award, the nation's highest honor for an architectural practice. For more information, visit lpadesignstudios.com.

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SOURCE LPA, Inc.