There is no doubt—the internet provides a world of learning, entertainment, enjoyment, healthcare information, escapism, and so much more. We’re bombarded with yet more and more of the latest and hottest social media trends out there. Do we really need more? I thought not but just when you’re ready to vow that you will never create an account for one more social media platform again, here comes another.
Sometimes it takes a personal crisis to drive home the importance of the choices being made in our professional lives as the builders, designers, engineers, or owners of modern healthcare facilities.
Over the past 20 years, I have participated in the construction of a wide range of healthcare facility projects. As part of that work, I’ve helped create a number of hospital mockups and offered plenty of input to the design and construction team.
At the recent Built Environment Network meeting (what's the Built Environment Network? Click here to read more!), the Lean process was a prominent topic.
What makes energy savings tough for hospitals is the intensity of use. Hospitals are 24/7 operations, creating whopping demands for power and water; they require hourly air changes and cool constantly running equipment, all with tons of lights on. Oh yeah, there’s a lot of nasty waste that has to be processed, too.
In essence, a hospital is like an aircraft carrier: self-sustaining with an insatiable appetite for power and several thousand mission-oriented people working on board.
In this second of a two-part preview of the session, “Creating Aging-Friendly Green Communities,” to be held at 3:15 p.m.
As part of last week's Built Environment Network meeting outside of Chicago, attendees were invited to tour the new East Tower of Chicago's Rush University Medical Center—a facility that has gotten more than a fair amount of publicity
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a meeting of a group known as the Built Environment Network. In the first part of my interview with Mara Baum, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, we delved into the details of her role as Sustainable Design Leader for HOK’s Healthcare practice and the ever-evolving nature of the green and sustainable movement in the healthcare community as a whole. On, April 25, 2012, World Malaria Day, the ARCHIVE Institute (Architecture for Health in Vulnerable Environments) a nonprofit organization, launched a competition that will engage and challenge various disciplines to conceive how design, particularly housing design, can help prevent malaria and improve the general health of poor communities. The ancient Greeks had it right—creating healing spaces that reduce stress and generate hope are instrumental in the healing process. I like to think that we are continuing the ancient Greeks’ mission though our research, education, and advocacy of evidence-based design (EBD) and the profound effect the built environment has on outcomes. A clinic’s size and configuration are shaped by its specialization. In our ongoing series on clinic design, we now look at different Clinic Modules to understand how function impacts design. Academic With the breathtaking backdrop of Storm King Mountain, the new addition to the Keller Army Community Hospital on the campus of West Point Military Academy will provide premium, world-class outpatient healthcare services for military staff and their family members, and an improved working environment for the staff.
The Built Environment Network: A Different Kind of Think Tank
Meet the Sustainability Director (Part 2)
Healthy Housing
EDAC: Advocate Firms—Spreading EBD Internationally
Clinic Design: The Clinic Module
Because academic clinics are teaching clinics, they serve the dual purpose of patient care and student education. Exam rooms must consider patient privacy while still providing a centrally located teaching zone and faculty zone.
World-Class Design for a Military Healthcare Facility
