Christine Sheng
Client DirectorRogers-O'Brien ConstructionChristine Sheng brings her expertise to RO as a Client Director focusing on academic and healthcare markets. With a strong background in architecture and extensive construction industry experience, Christine offers fresh perspectives and eagerly listens and learns from all those she comes across. She proudly highlights the RO family and equips her clients with successful projects from beginning to end. Christine ensures owner satisfaction, on-time delivery, budget adherence, and high-quality installations. Her strategies result in accurate pricing, improved logistics, and reduced material and labor waste, bridging gaps between construction, design, and ownership teams.
E20 – Research‑Informed Design for Equitable, High‑Performance Clinics
As outpatient and ambulatory care continues to expand, public and safety-net clinics face growing pressure to deliver efficient, dignified, and equita…As outpatient and ambulatory care continues to expand, public and safety-net clinics face growing pressure to deliver efficient, dignified, and equitable care within constrained footprints and evolving service models. These challenges are particularl…As outpatient and ambulatory care continues to expand, public and safety-net clinics face growing pressure to deliver efficient, dignified, and equitable care within constrained footprints and evolving service models. These challenges are particularly acute in regions such as Central Texas, where rapid population growth and persistent healthcare disparities place significant demands on federally qualified public health facilities. Yet many outpat…As outpatient and ambulatory care continues to expand, public and safety-net clinics face growing pressure to deliver efficient, dignified, and equitable care within constrained footprints and evolving service models. These challenges are particularly acute in regions such as Central Texas, where rapid population growth and persistent healthcare disparities place significant demands on federally qualified public health facilities. Yet many outpatient environments remain designed around assumptions of use rather than evidence of actual behavior. This session presents a research-informed approach to outpatient clinic design and illustrates how empirical findings informed the Hancock project, a large federally qualified public health facility addressing critical access gaps in Central Texas. The underlying study evaluated the real-world performance of outpatient clinic environments across four facilities within a single healthcare system using a mixed-methods approach. Observational studies, staff and patient feedback, and targeted statistical analysis were used to examine patient movement, waiting behavior, staff workflow, and perceptions of privacy, comfort, and efficiency. Findings were synthesized to identify recurring spatial and operational challenges common to high-volume outpatient settings. Results revealed consistent misalignment between design intent and use. Corridors frequently functioned as waiting areas, activity clustered near check-in and laboratory zones, and patients experienced repeated movement between exam rooms, scales, and waiting spaces—contributing to congestion, privacy risks, and inefficiencies. Key predictors of improved patient and companion experience included noninstitutional character, acoustic quality, and appropriately sized waiting areas. Reduced staff travel distances, privacy at workstations, and adequate staff workspace were strongly associated with perceived care efficiency.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
