Inside UHealth SoLé Mia, a next-generation facility designed for healing
- Jake Nicholas
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Scheduled to open in Fall 2025, UHealth SoLé Mia represents a bold new vision for outpatient care in North Miami-Dade. This seven-story, 370,000-square-foot facility by the University of Miami Health System is designed with a singular goal in mind: to support healing through the environment itself.
From the early stages, the project emphasized a patient-first approach. UHealth leaders and architects conducted extensive consultations with patients, families, caregivers, and staff to inform the building’s design. The result is a thoughtfully curated space grounded in the principles of healing architecture—an approach that recognizes how the physical environment can influence physical and emotional recovery.
"From the onset, our guiding principle in the design of this building has been to promote healing and recovery in patients, to support their caregivers and family, and to provide our staff with an environment that is conducive to delivering the best care," says Vandana Pathak, the Assistant Vice President for Ambulatory Service at UHealth.
The facility will offer access to world-class care from institutions including Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center—South Florida’s only NCI-designated cancer center—Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, ranked the nation’s top eye hospital, and the Desai Sethi Urology Institute. A new collaboration with the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) will also establish a robust musculoskeletal program featuring orthopedic imaging, ambulatory surgeries, rehabilitation, and more.
Every element of UHealth SoLé Mia has been intentionally designed to engage the senses and promote wellness. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the interior with natural light, helping to regulate circadian rhythms and reduce stress. Outside, a reflection garden overlooking a lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean provides a peaceful setting for meditation and quiet moments. As guests enter the facility, live piano music creates a calming and welcoming atmosphere. Inside, curated artwork inspired by South Florida’s water, flora, and fauna adds a sense of place and serenity throughout the building.
Aromatherapy is infused into the environment and also offered as part of supportive services such as massage, acupuncture, and art therapy for cancer patients. The facility prioritizes sustainability, with eco-conscious building materials that avoid harmful chemicals. Navigation is made easy with clearly marked signage and strategically placed benches, while spacious waiting areas, private consult rooms, and family lounges enhance comfort. For staff, dedicated wellness spaces offer moments of respite, complete with natural light and artwork, ensuring a restorative environment for caregivers as well.
On a practical level, the facility will include 10 operating rooms, 3 interventional radiology suites, 3 GI/endoscopy procedure suites, 33 infusion chairs, over 100 exam rooms, and a full suite of imaging and ancillary services. UHealth SoLé Mia will offer a comprehensive range of specialties to serve the North Miami community. These include cardiology, dermatology, diabetes/endocrinology, executive medicine, gastroenterology & hepatology, interventional radiology, medical oncology, neurology, neurological surgery, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otolaryngology (ENT), physical & rehabilitation medicine, primary care, pulmonology, rheumatology, surgical oncology, and urology. Additionally, general surgery and surgical subspecialties such as colorectal, laparoscopic, plastic, and vascular surgery will be available.
Located at 2111 SoLé Mia Way, the medical center is easily accessible via Biscayne Boulevard and includes a 1,200-space parking garage with valet service.
Evidence-Based Design Backed by Research
UHealth SoLé Mia’s design reflects decades of research showing that aesthetics, layout, and exposure to nature can directly impact patient outcomes. The concept gained national recognition with Roger Ulrich’s landmark 1984 study demonstrating that patients with a view of trees recovered faster and needed less pain medication than those facing a brick wall. Since then, a growing body of evidence has supported the value of natural light, thoughtful wayfinding, artwork, and calming environments in clinical settings.
These principles are being applied throughout the facility—down to subtle yet impactful elements like well-lit corridors and easy-to-navigate floorplans. “They were incredibly thoughtful in integrating elements that will help a patient on their journey,” said Joanna Lombard, architect and professor at UM’s School of Architecture.
Lombard, who helps train future healthcare architects, emphasized that even small design decisions—such as access to outdoor views, the inclusion of plants, or relaxing visuals—can improve clinical outcomes and overall patient satisfaction.
A Facility Rooted in Community and Compassion
"Hospitals and ambulatory medical centers are not places where people necessarily want to go," Pathak adds, "Many are receiving bad news or have a family member receiving treatment for a serious illness. We have to be mindful of each element of healing and build an environment that makes the experience more pleasant." Lindsay Thornton, M.D., the facility's medical director, agrees, pointing out that more than 500 stakeholders helped shape the space where they will work, receive medical care, or provide care. She calls architecture's role in the healing process the most exciting aspect of the building.
"As both a physician and someone who has experienced the hospital setting as a caregiver to a loved one, I know how crucial this is," she says. "Every detail has been thoughtfully designed with healing in mind. This isn't just a building — it's an environment that enhances care, restores the spirit, and brings a sense of peace to everyone who walks through its doors."
"It does change a patient's mood, no doubt about it," Dr. Schwartz says of the art and the large windows that allow for sunlight to stream in throughout the day. "I'm glad this is finally being recognized and applied [to health care settings]. It's an important issue that has gone unspoken for a long time."
With its cutting-edge facilities, patient-focused programming, and emphasis on wellness through design, UHealth SoLé Mia is poised to become a model for the future of ambulatory care in South Florida—one where healing begins the moment you walk through the door.
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