Health Care Architecture & Fabrication

The development of patient room design is demonstrating the power of the creative process and how contractors and medical professionals are trying to make an adaptive space that will serve future needs. Building Design + Construction reported that the boom in outpatient facility construction is not slowing down any time soon and the spaces are becoming increasingly complex.

"In the early 1990s, outpatient care accounted for only 10 to 15 percent of hospital revenue; today, it's closer to 60 percent," said Patrick Duke, Senior Vice President with KLMK Group, Richmond, Va. "It's a shift that's been happening across the board, sweeping along academic medical centers, community hospitals, for-profit chains, and not-for-profit providers alike. And it's showing no sign of slowing, especially with advancements in care and changing reimbursement patterns." 

Medical groups and hospitals are demanding spaces that are adaptive with changing needs in the healthcare field. 

Inclusion of family accommodations
Hospitals are beginning to create family accommodation spaces so that patients may have the people that really matter near them. Many hospitals are beginning to look at family as a crucial part of the healing process, which is why family accommodations are necessary. This means that features like family sleeping areas, built-in entertainment features and work stations with internet access. A family accommodation area is not possible for every suite, but for extensive hospital stays, medical practices may want to consider this as an option. 

Quality materials adapt to changing healthcare needs
ASST offers quality material solutions that are designed to meet the needs of a healthcare facility. Adaptive, functional and durable solutions are crucial to fit the needs of a medical practice. From the restrooms to the lobbies, ASST offers comprehensive material solutions that meet federal and state regulations, as well as industry standards. Listed below are a few of the design solutions ASST offers to  healthcare clients:

• Full package Division 6 casework (available in a variety of materials)
• OR paneling
• Trespa™ wall panels
• Toilet partitions
• SCULPTCOR®  wall panel system (with hard seam joints)
• Modular Vanity™ System
• MatchLine™ Stainless Sinks
• Cradle™ Baby Bowl

ASST offers a comprehensive listing of quality solutions for healthcare facilities. If you're looking for more information, visit www.asst.com or contact ASST architectural support 717.630.1251 x305.

The modern development of the patient room is pushing design boundaries. Hospital operators are investing in new research to identify the interior design factors that can impact the health and mood of patients. Metropolis Magazine reported that there is a collaboration going on between contractors, medical professionals and interior designers to develop the best in patient room design. 

Creating patient rooms with private and public space qualities
Developing spaces that are inclusive and meet the needs of patients and medical personnel is growing in importance. Unlike the dorm-like appearance of previous hospitals, newer renditions are using much more usage of public and private space. Collaborators on a project found that too often medical rooms are not created with the mental health of the patient in mind. Spaces that are made to boost positive feelings with the use of natural light and privacy areas are often less usable for medical personnel who need to get in intensive care areas. 

Using unique materials in patient room design
The Patient Room 2020 was a collaborative design effort to explore next-generation inpatient care that took a look at patient and caregiver experiences. Corian Design Studio and DuPont worked together to develop a prototype room that used unique materials and layout to promote better care giving.

The use of Corian was a primary component of the room's design, according to the news source.

"Corian has unique abilities to be thermoformed and shaped," designer David Ruthven told the news source. "It's nonporous. And because everything is seamless and sanded, there aren't any places where mold or bacteria can flourish. It's easy for staff to keep clean. All this minimizes the spread of infection. Hospitals are places where people are supposed to heal. They shouldn't have to worry about getting sicker while they're there." 

Incorporating the right material solutions
At ASST, we have developed comprehensive material solutions for the healthcare industry. Our full package of products provide architects charged with creating functional, yet aesthetically pleasing patient rooms the right solutions.

Listed below are a few of the design materials we offer healthcare clients:

• Full package Division 6 casework
• OR paneling
• Trespa™ wall panels
• Toilet partitions
• SCULPTCOR® wall panel system
• Modular Vanity™ System
• MatchLine™ Stainless Sinks
• Cradle™ Baby Bowl

Options like the Modular Vanity system are constructed out of a stout polyethylene frame and covered with tough, durable Corian. As Ruthven told the news source, the material is nonporous and discourages the growth of mold, mildew or fungus, which reduces the risk of spreading illnesses. 

For more information on ASST's comprehensive offerings for healthcare, visit www.asst.com or contact ASST architectural support 717.630.1251 x305.

The healthcare industry is undergoing rapid change in terms of technologies and process. New systems are being put in place in rapid succession and interior designers who specialize in building unique healthcare facilities are trying to create more adaptive spaces. 

Using adaptive, sustainable design in medical facilities
According to Contract Design Magazine, approximately 170,000 commercial buildings are constructed each year in the U.S. and another 44,000 commercial structures are demolished. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that 48 percent of the waste stream created each year in the nation comes from building-related construction and demolition debris. This fact has led many interior designers, architects and contractors to reconsider their creation of specialized spaces. 

Together, these two trends are combining to create an overall movement toward creating adaptive sustainability. Those experts in the commercial construction and related industries are working together to build new or renovate old structures with a more adaptive design that can be modernized in the future without too much difficulty. 

Because the healthcare industry is in an almost constant state of flux and changes at such a rapid pace, it's important that medical facilities are designed with adaptability in mind. The right materials, floor plan and interior design can be created by professionals to support the creation of medical facilities that can be easily renovated to meet the changes needs of the industry. 

How to achieve adaptive, sustainable design
By renovating older medical facilities and using quality materials, a healthcare facility can achieve this balance for greater sustainability and operational efficiency. The experts at ASST have created a wide range of solutions for constructing high-quality medical centers. It is possible to achieve adaptive design without forgoing sustainability with the help of ASST. Our materials and design solutions are made to fit the changing needs of a healthcare facility. 

Listed below are just a few of the design solutions we offer our healthcare clients:

• Full package Division 6 casework (available in a variety of materials)
• OR paneling
• Trespa™ wall panels
• Toilet partitions
• SCULPTCOR®  wall panel system (with hard seam joints)
• Modular Vanity™ System
• MatchLine™ Stainless Sinks
• Cradle™ Baby Bowl 

ASST offers a comprehensive listing of quality solutions for healthcare facilities. If you're looking for more information, visit www.asst.com or contact ASST architectural support 717.630.1251 x305. 

The evolution of healthcare design has demonstrated that the atmosphere that a patient finds him or herself in can drastically impact the well-being of a person. Patient rooms have transformed from dark corridor styled spaces to much more spacious and bright areas. However, the evolution of healthcare facility design and patient rooms is hardly over. There is always room for advancement, yet many interior designers and contractors don't dream of spending their career creating unique medical spaces, which is slowing the development.

Convincing designers to consider the healthcare field
Metropolis Magazine reported that many interior designers and architects don't dream of creating the next best design for a medical center. In contrast, many professionals find themselves discovering the needs of the field and the satisfaction for designing interior solutions for medical facilities much more haphazardly.

"As an undergrad at Clemson, I had no interest in designing hospitals," said David Ruthven, principal designer of Patient Room 2020—a prototype hospital room on display at DuPont's Corian Design Studio in New York City, and launched this month in concurrence with the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. "I thought they looked ugly, and that they wouldn't be a lot of fun to work on. And I remembered visiting family members in hospitals, and wanting to get out of them as quickly as possible."

However, that all changed after Ruthven enrolled in Clemson's Architecture + Health graduate program. There he learned about the stakeholders in medical centers and the challenges associated with creating a space that meets the varying needs of everyone who has to use that space. He went on to tell Metropolis Magazine that dealing with actual clients, nurses, doctors and the patients' needs opened his eyes to the needs of the healthcare industry and how he could add his skills to improve patient care.

Design desires of healthcare professionals
Healthcare professionals realize that the design of a space impacts their ability to accomplish tasks and the comfort of the patient. Ruthven and a team took the needs and advice of healthcare professionals and have designed Patient Room 2020. The innovative design included a new bathroom configuration and nurse workstation, improvements to patient rooms and the inclusion of more durable materials that offer easy cleaning to hospital staff. 

"People in healthcare desperately want to innovate," said Salley Whitman, co-founder and executive director at NXT Health, according to the news source. "The problem is they don't have the time or resources to do it. They're dealing with patients who are sick and dying; there's no safe place to step back and ask what the customer really needs. Like any industry, healthcare needs a separate R&D department if we're ever going to see true innovation." 

Innovative healthcare design is becoming the focus of some interior design and architectural firms. 

Invest in quality solutions in healthcare centers
At ASST, we have developed comprehensive material solutions for healthcare design. We are dedicated to providing architects and interior designers access to high-quality materials that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Listed below are a few of the design materials we offer healthcare clients:

• Full package Division 6 casework
• OR paneling
• Trespa™ wall panels
• Toilet partitions
• SCULPTCOR® wall panel system
• Modular Vanity™ System
• MatchLine™ Stainless Sinks
• Cradle™ Baby Bowl 

Our SCULPTCOR® thermoformed wall panel system is able to provide medical centers with a beautiful interior that is made to meet the needs of those who use the space. This, in addition to the variety of other material solutions we offer, makes the brand a go-to source for architects and interior designers creating modern healthcare facilities. For more information on ASST's comprehensive offerings for health care, visit www.asst.com or contact ASST architectural support 717.630.1251 x305.

Many medical centers across the nation are under construction or being renovated to provide patients and staff a superior space to inhabit. However, how are those designs working to promote the safety and comfort of the individuals being treated? Various sections of a hospital or medical centers with one designated treatment purpose may have differentiating needs in terms of design. 

Creating safe and comfort at psychiatric hospitals
For most architects and designers in charge of creating a psychiatric hospital, the focus is on eliminating potential safety hazards. However, that must not be the entire purpose behind the design or the therapeutic qualities of the treatment there will be reduced due to the institutional atmosphere of the structure, reported Healthcare Design Magazine. 

In 1812 Samuel Tuke wrote a description of York Retreat, an institution for the mentally ill in York, England, that was founded by his grandfather William Tuke. His description of the design of the structure indicates a belief that the atmosphere and interior of the structure was hindering patients' treatments. 

"Many errors in the construction, as well as in the management, of asylums for the insane appear to arise from excessive attention to safety. … In the construction of such places, cure and comfort ought to be as much considered as security," Tuke wrote, according to the source.

Designers for medical centers, especially those for psychiatric facilities, must keep in mind both safety considerations and creating a therapeutic environment. Even the healthiest individual can feel glum, tired and anxious due to atmosphere – a facility that doesn't foster healing could be even more damaging to those who are already suffering. 

Use durable, nature-inspired materials in medical centers
At ASST, we are dedicated to providing designers and contractors with access to the high-quality materials that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Interior finishes in healthcare centers require both characteristics, which can create some challenges. ASST can help design professionals and architects meet these challenges by providing quality solutions. We have a complete product line that includes solid surface, translucent resin materials as well as millwork and plastic laminate.

Listed below are just a few of the design solutions we offer our healthcare clients:

• Full package Division 6 casework 
• OR paneling
• Trespa™ wall panels
• Toilet partitions
• SCULPTCOR® wall panel system 
• Modular Vanity™ System
• MatchLine™ Stainless Sinks
• Cradle™ Baby Bowl

For further information on ASST's comprehensive offerings for health care, visit www.asst.com or contact ASST architectural support 717.630.1251 x305.

Patients and caregivers are hardly the only ones spending a considerable amount of time in healthcare facilities. Family members and friends gathering in a hospital room is a common image in media, but it is also a very real situation for many. Families of a patient can spend days at a time at a hospital and after sitting on uncomfortable chairs built to accommodate no one with comfort, finding little privacy to talk or grieve and sitting in a sterile environment devoid of personality, anyone would feel worse for wear. 

Hospitals designed to accommodate families and  friends
Interior designers, architects and other professionals in charge of creating hospital spaces should consider the family when building or renovating a healthcare structure. Improvements in accommodations can drastically improve people's outlook during a time that is most likely already filled with stress. 

Healthcare Design Magazine reported that in India, which prides itself on its family and community-oriented lifestyle, medical centers are designed with the understanding that patients will be arriving with multiple family members who become part of their care team. As a result, architects make sure that every space, from the foyer to the patients' rooms, are designed for comfort and include soothing features. 

"As part of the design process, we thought of the design of all the public spaces as being underpinned by this notion of community," said Mark Erdly, principal, Cannon Design, according to the news source. 

How ASST can help design strong healthcare facilities
Hospitals and other medical centers looking to help promote comfort and community in a facility should consider including a number of high-quality, durable solutions. Comfort in a healthcare facility must be tempered with practicality. At ASST, we have more than a few solutions for constructing a high-quality center that includes expertly crafted furniture and wall panels.

Listed below are just a few of the design solutions we offer our healthcare clients:

• Full package Division 6 casework (available in a variety of materials)
• OR paneling
• Trespa™ wall panels
• Toilet partitions
• SCULPTCOR®  wall panel system (with hard seam joints)
• Modular Vanity™ System
• MatchLine™ Stainless Sinks
• Cradle™ Baby Bowl

ASST offers a comprehensive listing of quality solutions for healthcare facilities. If you're looking for more information, visit www.asst.com or contact ASST architectural support 717.630.1251 x305. 

Designing for the aging population is becoming increasingly important for a variety of facilities. Hospitals, offices and other commercial structures are adapting their designs to ensure that seniors are better able to navigate spaces and live an independent life.

Why is it important to design for the aging population?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the elderly population is expected to more than double between now and 2050. This will bring the number of seniors in the nation to 80 million or roughly one out of five adults over the age of 65. One of the greatest challenges facing architects and designers in the next 30 years will be to meet this new demand. The American Society of Interior Designers claims this will require modifications to senior housing, hospitality structures, retail stores and healthcare facilities.

Because of the confusion, the ASID Design for Aging Council has been created to help designers better meet the needs of seniors and those who are caring for them. The agency is looking to how the age wave is expected to impact interior design practices for all types of structures and will look to create guidance on issues like accessibility, visitability and universal design.

ASID Design for Aging Council's goals
▪ Identify and develop information to teach interior designers about the needs of seniors and how to work effectively with other professionals who provide them care and services.
▪  Work to share information to the media and public about how interior designers help meet the needs of an aging population and improve seniors' quality of life.
▪  Use and develop case studies about the many needs a structure will have to meet for the various stages of aging in both private and public spaces.
▪  Create partnerships with other industry professionals who will also be working to develop better spaces for seniors and foster collaboration.
▪  Improve communication between the various groups working to build, design and work within spaces that serve those older than 65.     
▪  Assess current and future opportunities for interior designers that relate to improved education about the needs of seniors and key trends in the field of aging.

Design considerations for a hospital
As healthcare facilities play a crucial role in the treatment of seniors, they are a primary concern for those who wish to update structures to better serve this growing portion of the population. Healthcare Design Magazine reported that senior-friendly design is increasingly necessary and those working in this sector are becoming more aware of the changes to current facilities that need to happen to better meet these needs. Some senior-friendly features are becoming more familiar to the acute care side of the healthcare sector as more seniors are walking in the front door of facilities. These include reduced-glare flooring, the training of cleaning staff to avoid over-waxing floors, more sensitive lighting, color contrast in design and nature-based art. Providing quieter, comfortable waiting areas that are devoid of the blaring sounds of a television are also part of an interior design that is intended to service seniors. 

How ASST can help interior designers create senior-friendly hospital spaces
Smart medical centers that are designed with seniors in mind will easily become favorite magnet locations and symbols of a dedication to high-quality care. To make sure that a hospital is able to meet the needs of seniors, officials can bring in the experts at ASST. 

Listed below are just a few of the design solutions we offer our healthcare clients:

• Full package Division 6 casework (available in a variety of materials)
• OR paneling
• Trespa™ wall panels
• Toilet partitions
• SCULPTCOR®   wall panel system (with hard seam joints)
• Modular Vanity™ System
• MatchLine™ Stainless Sinks
• Cradle™ Baby Bowl

New in health care is the challenge for designers and architects to design health care facilities that will last for decades and longer. Design professionals are being charged with the responsibility of designing healthcare structures that are ideal for current technology, but are also flexible and durable enough to transform spaces easily and affordably.

Healthcare Design Magazine reported that the new Center for Care and Discovering on the University of Chicago Medicine's campus was designed with the intention of doing just that. The 1.2 million square-foot center is relatively low to the ground at only 10 stories and was built to be the ultimate in transformative design.

"On our site visits, we saw some hospitals that had ORs on two floors, which worked just fine," said Elizabeth Lockwood, project manager for University of Chicago Medicine, according to the news source. "But we liked the idea of having just one big floor. The units can flex over time in size. [Also, one floor cuts down on travel time for staff]."

According to the news source, the client desired a structure that would last for 100 years and adapt to the changing needs of the healthcare industry. In the last 100 years, healthcare and the technologies used for treatment have undergone a rapid transformation. This new building is intended to take the evolutionary nature of the industry and adapt without major problems. This was managed with the inclusion of a very walking-friendly design, a lot of natural light and easily adaptable spaces.

"The development of the universal grid was a response to optimizing all major hospital programmatic platforms within a singular structural grid," said Elizabeth Rack, principal, Cannon Design, according to the news source. "The importance of the universal grid is heightened by a building of this size and complexity where different programs are stacked vertically."

This new trend toward smart-design medical centers is expected to continue to grow as more and more facilities adopt this transformative ideal. Architects & designers are specifying interior finish materials that are also expected to be adaptable, durable and practical. ASST can help you meet these challenges by providing quality solutions  in solid surface, translucent resin materials as well as millwork and plastic laminate.

Listed below are just a few of the design solutions we offer our healthcare clients:

• Full package Division 6 casework (available in a variety of materials)
• OR paneling
• Trespa™ wall panels
• Toilet partitions
• SCULPTCOR®   wall panel system (with hard seam joints)
• Modular Vanity™ System
• MatchLine™ Stainless Sinks
• Cradle™ Baby Bowl

For further information on ASST's comprehensive offerings for health care, visit www.asst.com or contact ASST architectural support 717.630.1251 x305.