Challenge:

The University of Kansas Health System and the Friendship Inn board envisioned a hospitality house that would serve as a supportive refuge for families traveling to be near loved ones receiving medical care. The project needed to strike a delicate balance: it had to feel like home, yet function within a healthcare context. Creating a space that offered warmth, privacy, and emotional relief, while supporting operational efficiency and accessibility, required thoughtful design and in-depth alignment with the Inn’s mission. Every detail, from shared kitchens to overnight rooms, needed to foster dignity, calm, and connection.

Solution:

Pulse Design Group collaborated with The University of Kansas Health System, McCownGordon Construction, and the Friendship Inn board to bring this vision to life. The result is a 16,455 SF hospitality house that offers 14 guest rooms, communal dining and kitchen areas, laundry, and quiet gathering spaces. Pulse Design Group provided interior design services tailored to whole-person wellness—selecting finishes, furnishings, and details that promote tranquility and familiarity. The team’s work focused on creating a non-institutional environment that meets the emotional needs of families while supporting long-term durability and ease of use for staff. The Friendship Inn now stands as a welcoming, restorative space that extends the health system’s care beyond hospital walls.