Scope of Work

Youth-Friendly Primary Care & HIV Treatment Clinic
Location: Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Project Start: January 2026

Background

Roots of Health is establishing a new clinic facility in Puerto Princesa City that will provide the following services: family planning, prenatal, and HIV services.

The facility will occupy a large, currently empty rented space. We are seeking a Palawan-based architect and/or interior designer to work closely with our team to design a space that is:

• welcoming, vibrant, and youth-friendly
• compliant with Department of Health (DOH) and Philhealth requirements
• client-centered with respect to confidentiality, discretion, and stigma reduction, especially for HIV services

Overall Design Goals

The design should balance:

• A young, fun, colorful, and inviting vibe (youth-friendly,)
• Visual and auditory privacy, particularly for counseling areas
• Clear and efficient client flow
• User-centered and provider friendly
• Flexibility, including possible use for evening (“sundown”) clinic operations

Scope of Services

1. Site Assessment & Space Planning

• Review the existing space and constraints, including:
  • Rooms with water supply (for family planning services, sink, CRs, autoclave)
  • Rooms without water supply (potential HIV services, reception, consultation rooms)
  • Sunlight exposure and heat considerations (e.g., air cons, plants, blinds, shading solutions)
  • Lighting assessment and design (e.g. lighting considerations for privacy, confidentiality, and evening (“sundown”) clinic operations
• Propose functional zoning of the space, including but not limited to:
  • Reception and waiting areas
  • Youth clinic / primary care services
  • HIV treatment and care services
  • Counseling and consultation rooms
  • Staff areas and storage
  • Future expansion

2. Review the Client & Provider Flow Design

• Review the developed client flow from entry to exit to ensure that it:
  • Minimizes unintended disclosure or “outing” of clients
  • Allows for both quick, discreet visits and longer, supportive engagements
• Review the designed provider and staff flow to ensure it supports efficiency and confidentiality
• Consider separate or overlapping flows for youth clinic and HIV services, with clear rationale
• Align all flows with DOH standards and requirements for clinics and treatment hubs
• Propose improvements to client and provider flow design

3. Confidentiality & Stigma-Sensitive Design

• Integrate design solutions that protect privacy, such as:
  • Visual and auditory privacy in consultation and treatment rooms
  • Waiting areas that do not signal the type of service being accessed
• Explore how design can reduce stigma while still being welcoming:
  • Decisions around open vs enclosed spaces
  • Use of neutral or non-clinical naming and signage
• Advise on whether and how youth clinic and HIV services could share or differentiate branding within the same space

4. Look, Feel, and Branding Integration

• Propose an overall aesthetic that is:
  • Youth-friendly, colorful, fun, and modern
  • Appropriate for a clinic that includes HIV treatment
• Integrate Roots of Health branding thoughtfully into the space
• Consider design elements that support:
  • Community engagement
  • A sense of safety, belonging, and dignity

5. Flexibility & Special Use Considerations

• Design with flexibility for:
  • Evening or “sundown” clinic operations
  • Potential community use (e.g., people spending time in the space, peer support)
• Consider the clinic’s strategic location (e.g., proximity to bars, inns, Rizal Avenue) in how entry, visibility, and discretion are handled

6. Deliverables

• Space layout and zoning plan
• Client and staff flow diagrams
• Concept design / mood boards
• Lighting concept and recommendations (fixtures, placement, color temperature and controls), aligned with privacy and clinical needs
• Preliminary interior design and/or architectural plans
• Design recommendations addressing confidentiality, branding, and stigma
• Rough guidance on materials, finishes, and design elements (budget-aware)

Working Style & Collaboration

• Openness to collaborative work, iterative feedback and refinement
• Sensitivity to working with young people, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people living with HIV
• Availability for meetings (in-person in Puerto Princesa preferred)

Preferred Qualifications

• Based in Palawan or with strong local presence in Puerto Princesa
• Experience designing clinics, health facilities, or community spaces (an advantage)
• Experience or demonstrated sensitivity to confidentiality, stigma, and inclusive design
• Architect, interior designer, or team combining both skill sets

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter, resume and contact information and design/project portfolio to jobs@rootsofhealth.org as soon as possible.

Type: “Architect” or “Interior Designer” in the subject line.