Herman Miller Healthcare Scholars Bring a Better World Perspective to Healthcare Design
Back in September, Herman Miller Healthcare announced the names of those selected for its 2010 scholarship program for intern architects.
As part of the scholarship program, the company will sponsor the attendance of nine individuals at this year’s Healthcare Design conference in Las Vegas, November 13-16.
I thought it would be fun to catch-up with the scholarship recipients before the conference to find out what interests them about healthcare design and architecture. And, because creating a better world is important to Herman Miller, I specifically asked them how they think healthcare design and architecture can contribute to a better world.
Check out their thoughts about the subject:
Ryan Cameron
Visions in Architecture, Lincoln, NE
It is in a designer’s best interest to provide value to healthcare architecture—value created with better design through increased collaboration, new techniques and time for reflection. Future designers will need all three if they are to create a better world.
Seth Cantley
Liollio Architecture, Charleston, SC
Healthcare already has a great impact on the community, economy, and environment. How we grow and improve this network with better human scale connections, balance with nature, and comfort technology will show our true knowledge.
Josh Boltinhouse
Stevens & Wilkinson, Columbia, SC
By improving and influencing the built environment of those who are sick or have loved ones who are sick, we’re able to take some of the worst moments of the human experience and make them better, which, in my mind, makes for a better world.
Amy Buller
Miles Associates, Oklahoma City, OK
Creating a soothing, non-intimidating environment makes hospital and doctor’s visits more manageable, not a dreaded task. By aesthetically and functionally creating healthcare spaces that people want to occupy, we are, in turn, contributing to a better, healthier world.
Kim Matteson
MEDNATIONAL, LLC, Fargo, ND
I think that reducing the recovery time of a patient or creating a peaceful place for personal reflection or designing an efficient work space can be pretty significant in the person’s life that it touches. To make this world a better place involves creating a built environment that is thoughtful, innovative, and environmentally conscious and I’m grateful to be a part of it.
Julie Havens
HOK, Chicago, IL
Through an integrated design approach across the trades of master planning, programming, medical planning, interior design, and operations planning and implementation, healthcare design teams today are looking to implement environmentally conscious facilities that eliminate waste and accelerate healing.
Amanda Scott
Arkitex Studio, Inc., Bryan, TX
From the floor to the ceiling of any design and everything in between, every element, designed to physically support, visually uplift, and emotionally reinforce the actions within fully accomplishes a betterment for that entity.
Heather Greenfield
H+L Architecture, Denver, CO
I believe that great design can not only make a patient feel more at home while being treated, it can also improve the way a person feels while in the space. It is through innovative healthcare design that we can really make a difference in one’s treatment, recovery and life.
Shruti Nathan
Anshen+Allen, part of Stantec Architecture, San Francisco, CA
Better informed and innovative design solutions that respond to emerging new facts and advancing medical technology has proved to not only alleviate patients recovery time, but also use fewer drug treatments, help staff retention and comfort family and visitors during stressful times. Integrating this approach with a sustainable design results in healing spaces that are environmentally, economically and socially viable… and ultimately enriches lives.
After reading these responses, it’s clear that the future looks bright for healthcare design.