Taylor Design Helps Bring UCI Health – Irvine Rehabilitation Hospital to Life
Joint venture between UCI Health and Lifepoint Rehabilitation combines academic medicine and specialized rehabilitation expertise in a new 52-bed facility.
Irvine, Calif. —Taylor Design announced the completion of the new UCI Health – Irvine Rehabilitation Hospital, a 52-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility developed through a joint venture between UCI Health and Lifepoint Rehabilitation.
The new hospital expands access to specialized rehabilitation services for patients recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other complex medical conditions. Designed to support intensive inpatient rehabilitation, the facility reflects the partnership’s commitment to advancing rehabilitation care through a patient-centered environment designed to support recovery and restore independence.
The project represents a distinctive partnership between two healthcare organizations with complementary strengths. UCI Health, Orange County’s only academic health system, provides nationally recognized clinical expertise and research capabilities, while Lifepoint Rehabilitation contributes extensive experience operating inpatient rehabilitation hospitals nationwide. Together with Taylor Design, the organizations partnered in creating a facility that advances rehabilitation care while supporting the unique needs of post-acute patients.
“Projects like this require a deep understanding of both healthcare operations and patient experience,” said Jennifer Timmons, project director at Taylor Design. “Our team worked closely with the owner, operator, developer and builder to create a facility that supports advanced rehabilitation therapies while responding to the unique opportunities and constraints of the site.”
Unlike a traditional acute care hospital, the rehabilitation hospital was designed around the specific needs of patients undergoing intensive therapy and recovery. The facility includes a specialized acquired brain injury unit, dialysis services, multidisciplinary therapy gyms equipped with advanced rehabilitation technologies, and outdoor spaces that encourage movement, therapy and social interaction.
Inspired by the city’s network of walking trails, historic ranchlands, rolling grasslands, coastal landscapes, and foothill vistas, the hospital’s design celebrates the idea that life is a journey, not a destination. This philosophy aligns closely with the patient rehabilitation experience, where progress is achieved through a series of meaningful steps toward wellness.
Designed to enhance that journey through a strong sense of place, thoughtfully selected accent materials, including wallcoverings, wall tile, and varying floor finishes represent the textures, colors, and movement found throughout the region’s nearby natural landscapes. A palette of neutral tones, warm wood finishes, and accents of cool blues and greens reinforce the project’s biophilic inspiration, drawing connections to the experience of moving through nature. These elements create a welcoming and restorative atmosphere that supports patients throughout their rehabilitation process while also providing moments of respite and renewal for staff.
Taylor Design’s role extended beyond the building itself. Working alongside developer, PMB, and builder, DPR Construction, the firm helped coordinate a project involving multiple stakeholders with distinct priorities, including healthcare providers, facility operators, developers and construction teams. The collaborative approach helped align clinical goals, operational requirements, and design objectives throughout the project.
The 68,000-square-foot facility features 52 private patient rooms, and a range of specialized rehabilitation services designed to support recovery from serious injuries and illnesses. The hospital also reflects a broader shift toward integrated care models that bring together healthcare providers, operators, and designers to create more efficient, patient-centered environments.
The UCI Health – Irvine Rehabilitation Hospital will serve patients throughout Orange County and Southern California, expanding access to advanced rehabilitation services while supporting ongoing innovation in post-acute care.
Partners included: Structural Affiliates International Inc., structural engineer; Kimley-Horn, civil and landscape; EDGE Consulting, electrical, low voltage, and security; SC Engineers, mechanical and plumbing; DGG, food service; Mazzetti, medical equipment; and AWC | West, specifications.
About Taylor Design
Taylor Design works in the space between complexity and humanity. For nearly fifty years, we’ve partnered with healthcare systems and research institutions connecting strategy, experience and space to transform how care is delivered and discovery is made. We’re 100% employee-owned, with five studios across California and a shared belief that health and science can be more just and compassionate than the systems we’ve inherited. Additional clients include Caltech, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Hoag, Kaiser Permanente, Providence, Sharp, Stanford Health, and the University of California system, among others. Visit us at wearetaylor.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
Media Contact: Sharlett Maderazo, Brand and Communications Manager – smaderazo@wearetaylor.com
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