Metropolis Awards River People Health Center for Best Social Impact

The River People Health Center (RPHC) has been honored in the 2024 Metropolis Planet Positive Awards, winning the Best Social Impact category. This recognition represents the second consecutive year that SmithGroup has won in this category, following the 2023 award win for the San Francisco Amenipods. 

Now in its fourth year, the Planet Positive Awards celebrate the most innovative projects and products from around the world that benefit people and the planet, as well as firms and professionals leading the way to a better built environment. Judged by esteemed juries across various project and product categories, this year’s winners and honorable mentions showcase exceptional achievements in addressing climate change, ecosystem health, human well-being, and equity. 

The RPHC embodies this mission, providing a place of healing and wellness for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC). 

The RPHC is a beacon of hope for the SRP-MIC, which experiences severe health disparities and an average life expectancy of just 52 years. The RPHC is a direct response to the community’s “5 in 5” goal: to increase members’ average lifespan by five years within five years of opening. Its design is a tribute to the community’s resilience and tradition, inspired by the nearby sacred mountains and the lore of a healer who journeyed from peak to peak to learn their craft. 
 
Funded by Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency of the Department of Health & Human Services, the RPHC transformed a blighted golf course into a vibrant health and wellness hub. It serves Indigenous people who have faced centuries of socioeconomic marginalization, with an emphasis on care for the SRP-MIC.  

Since opening in March 2022, the RPHC has unified, expanded and introduced services, eliminating the need for community members to travel over 45 miles from their homes to receive comprehensive care.  

RPHC is more than a healthcare facility; it’s a lifeline offering holistic care in a space that honors and respects the community’s rich culture and history. 

Explore this year’s other incredible winners and honorees here.