The Taitung City Health Center officially reopened on December 22, unveiling a renewed public image with optimized service circulation and an enhanced user experience. As the highest-volume public health facility in Taitung County and a long-standing cornerstone of community health services, the upgrade was jointly led by the Taitung County Public Health Bureau and the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI). Without altering the building’s main structure, the project re-examined service workflows and reorganized spatial configurations to create a model site that exemplifies innovation in public service delivery in Taitung.

 

▲ Ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the reopening of the Taitung City Health Center

 

Supported by the Industrial Development Administration, MOEA: Advancing the Health Center Redesign Toward Scalable Implementation

 

With the support of the Industrial Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, TDRI has promoted the “Health Center Redesign” program since 2020, aiming to establish a consistent, reassuring, and replicable model for public health services. Multiple demonstration sites have already been completed in New Taipei City. Since 2022, the Taitung County Government has partnered with TDRI, and the Taitung City Health Center marks the first cross-county replication of this redesign initiative—an important milestone with significant demonstrative value.

 

 

Enhancing Spatial Efficiency to Create Intuitive Zoning and Wayfinding

 

Designed in 2008 by architect Chuang Hsueh-Neng(莊學能), the health center complex is one of Taitung’s representative modern public buildings. Originally planned as two adjacent facilities—a Chronic Disease Prevention Center and a Health Center—the spaces were consolidated into a single health center in 2014. This transition resulted in several operational challenges, including:

• • Dual entrances that created confusion and non-intuitive circulation
  • Service areas dispersed across multiple buildings without adjustment based on actual service volume
  • Overlapping pedestrian flows and unclear routes, making it difficult for visitors to understand service procedures and directions

 

▲ Prior to renovation, the coexistence of two entrances resulted in an unclear main entrance and wayfinding system.

 

▲ Previously, services were scattered across spaces, leading to lower spatial efficiency.

 

Without modifying the building structure, the redesign focused on enabling visitors to “naturally find the right path” while concentrating services to improve efficiency. By reassessing service processes and spatial use, the project established clearer circulation routes and zoning guidance, significantly enhancing the overall service experience.

 

▲ Clear spatial circulation and signage systems contribute to a smoother service experience.

 

▲ Applying the warm and approachable design language of the Health Center Redesign program, the facility now offers a bright and comfortable service environment.

 

Outcomes of Interagency Collaboration Driving Public Service Upgrades in Taitung

 

Although the project involved partial renovations within an existing facility, it required extensive interagency coordination, service integration, and detailed construction work. Through co-creation and a systematic redesign approach, the Taitung City Health Center successfully transformed within its original architectural constraints, achieving clearer circulation and more efficient spatial organization. The project also demonstrates new possibilities for public sector innovation in upgrading service environments.

 

The reopening of the Taitung City Health Center not only represents an evolution in local public health services but also opens new possibilities for counties and cities nationwide to adopt friendly, scalable public service improvement models. It is hoped that this demonstration project will serve as a starting point for the transformation of more public spaces, continuing to foster better public service experiences.

 

▲ Chang Chi-Yi (President of the Taiwan Design Research Institute) expressed his hope to see more public service upgrades across Taitung in the future.

 

 

Participating Organizations

 

Co-organizers: 

Industrial Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs Taitung County Public Health Bureau

Design Lead and Research:

Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) 

Design Consultant:

Chao Hsi(趙璽)

Design Firm:

Huang Wen-Jung Architects (黃文榮建築師事務所) 

Construction Supervision:

Chen Pei-Chun Architects (陳沛淳建築師事務所) 

Construction Contractor:

天行營造有限公司

Special Thanks:

Director Chang Yu-Chun(張裕君) and the entire staff of the Taitung City Health Center