Wah-Sekw Won Intertribal Wellness Center

The Wah-sekw Won Intertribal Wellness Center represents the initial phase of a Regional Wellness Vision to provide health and wellness services for the upriver Klamath community. The three-building, one-to-two-story resident treatment center and outpatient clinic was developed in tandem with the Master Plan for the future phases, on-site and beyond.

Located on a scenic hillside along the Klamath River, the site was selected for its strong natural connections and proximity to the Upper River communities. The center will consist of a series of shallow plank houses tucked against the hillside that maximize open space and indoor daylighting and orient entrances toward the river. Materials and form emulate traditional area construction, including round entries, decorative patterning, and three-pitch roofs draping each house. An entry plaza will be fit for outdoor gathering and events. Sustainability and resiliency were priorities for the project as traditional Yurok values, ensuring long-term reliability of community services while remaining integrated with natural surroundings.

The project design was developed in close collaboration with the Yurok Tribal Council, Tribal Court, Planning Department, tribal artists, treatment center specialists, and local tribal departments, in a concerted effort to build a healthcare vision with no known prior local precedent.