Peridot, Arizona
San Carlos Apache - Sadie Kniffin Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing Facility
A sanctuary of healing, dignity, and cultural connection
Izeè Baa Gowąh, also known as the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation (SCAHC), is a tribal corporation and organization serving members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Southeastern Arizona. Cuningham partnered with SCAHC to deliver three new, urgently needed facilities that eliminate gaps in care and drastically improve health and wellness for the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
As one of these three transformative projects, the Sadie Kniffin Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing Facility provides long-term care, memory care, skilled nursing, and hospice services—ensuring that elders receive compassionate, high-quality care within their own community.
Named after Sadie Stevens Kniffin, the first San Carlos Apache registered nurse, this 100-bed residence honors her pioneering spirit and dedication to serving her people, advancing SCAHC’s mission to “heal, serve and empower the Ndee (Apache people) while honoring the traditions through compassionate and respectful patient-centered team.”
Client: San Carlos Apache Tribe
Size: 130,000 Square Feet
Scope: New Construction
Services: Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Master Planning
Delivery Method: Design-Build
Key Project Contacts:
Design Rooted in Culture and Community
Cuningham undertakes projects for Native American communities with a deep understanding of the role culturally-competent engagement plays in grasping each tribe’s unique history, cultural values, and community-specific needs. For the Sadie Kniffin Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing Facility, the design process was shaped by extensive listening sessions with San Carlos Apache members, ensuring that the facility reflects the traditions and values of the community it serves.
Early programming discussions with providers and tribal leaders identified the importance of family, intergenerational connection, and privacy in the caregiving experience. The resulting design reflects these values, balancing intimate gathering spaces with areas of quiet reflection. Residents and their loved ones can connect in culturally appropriate ways, whether in shared living spaces or the outdoor courtyards that frame the open landscapes of Apache land.
A Neighborhood-Based Care Model
The design embraces a neighborhood-based model, with private rooms clustered around communal spaces and open courtyards—connecting residents to both nature and community. The facility consists of four distinct neighborhoods: two long-term care neighborhoods with a total of 60 units, a 20-unit memory care neighborhood, and a 20-unit skilled nursing neighborhood that includes four hospice rooms.
Each neighborhood is designed to foster a sense of community, with shared and private dining areas, activity rooms, family and living rooms, shared laundry rooms, and assisted bathing suites. Additionally, outdoor courtyards and covered patios are integrated into each neighborhood, creating inviting spaces for gathering, relaxation, and connection with nature. All resident units are studio-style spaces with full, private bathrooms and space for family to visit; in the long-term care neighborhoods, units feature small kitchenettes, offering residents added convenience.
At the heart of the building is a community center that serves as a central gathering place for residents, family, visitors, and staff. Designed to support social interaction and well-being, it features a large multi-purpose room for cultural and community events, a spacious main dining room with a variety of seating options, a café and bistro, a family room, a fitness center, a craft room, a library, and a meditation space. Cultural artifacts and items are displayed throughout, helping to share and tell the story of the Tribe’s history.
Honoring the Land and Future Generations
Beyond meeting immediate healthcare needs, this facility is an investment in sustainability and environmental resilience—a testament to the tribe’s commitment to future generations. The design responds to the challenges of the Arizona desert by incorporating passive cooling strategies, 33,000 square feet of sun shading, and native landscaping that thrives without irrigation. The facility also accommodates planned future solar energy and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, ensuring long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
Just as the Clarence Wesley Health Center was sited near Mount Turnbull to honor its cultural significance, the placement and orientation of the Sadie Kniffin Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing Facility reflects the Apache relationship with nature and the sacred symbolism of cardinal directions. The entry sequence, the positioning of shared spaces, and the views to the surrounding landscape are all designed to create an experience of healing, rooted in the Apache way of life.
A Legacy of Care
The Sadie Kniffin Long-Term Care and Skilled Nursing Facility is more than a care facility—it is a home designed around dignity, cultural connection, and belonging. By integrating the values, traditions, and environment of the San Carlos Apache Tribe into every aspect of the design, elders can receive care on their homeland, among their people, and within a space that respects their identity.
The project continues SCAHC’s mission to heal, serve, and empower the Apache people while honoring traditions through compassionate and respectful care—a lasting tribute to Sadie Kniffin’s legacy and a model for culturally responsive, community-centered healthcare.