M109 The Hospital Maze- Wayfinding through Design
Monday, June 11, 2018, 11 am – 12 noon
Seminar Description: Clear circulation in hospitals is paramount to daily functions, as patients and visitors struggle to navigate the maze of corridors. Confusing layouts add to patients’ anxiety at a time when many are weak and worried. Endless corridors that seem to lead to nowhere, poorly marked entrances, multiple elevator banks and incomprehensible signs confuse patients and exhaust medical staff for routine traffic. Frequently higher rate of inner hospital infections is recorded.
Could circulation be improved with signage only? The answer is no. The solutions are in the planning phase first, and in applying strong design cues and elements in appropriate locations.
Learning Objective:
- The Circulation Planning “Primer”– learn the differentiation of the main circulation flows in a hospital and how to plan departments, entries and “landmark” areas for orientation. The difference between frequent and sporadic traffic, vertical and horizontal connections.
- Traffic Control through Planning – learn about traffic control through architectural means – hierarchy of planning and design cues
- Creating “urban landmarks” in a trafficked area – augment knowledge for contemporary wayfinding means, no longer color lines on walls and floors, but memorable experiences and areas
- Collaboration between architects and hospital operation – architects and designers in collaboration with doctors and managers can put a finger on how to employ graphics, finishes, color, lighting effects and imagery – to create “urban landmarks” within a hospital
Does the program qualify to meeting HSW standards? Yes
Educational Track Categories: Facilities Construction and Renovation, Healthcare
Type of Professionals to whom presentation is targeted: Architects, Planners, Construction/Project Managers, Interior Designers, Doctors, Nurses, Healthcare Providers, Operation Managers
Professional Biography:
Primary Speaker
Rada Doytcheva, PhD, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal & Head of Design, RADA Architects, Chicago, IL
Rada Doytcheva is a Principal and Head of Design at RADA Architects, a design firm in downtown Chicago. Dr. Doytcheva represents architectural talent that came to the US at the end of the Cold War. European educated, she transplanted herself in the dynamics of the American architectural practice – at first as an associate with a large architectural firm, later as the founder and Principal of RADA Architects. In addition to her architectural advanced degrees, Dr. Doytcheva holds an MBA from The University of Chicago and she is a Master of Project Management of the American Academy of Project Management.
Dr. Doytcheva’s architectural work is known for innovative concepts in higher education, healthcare and workplace environments. Her broad professional involvement touches on urban renewal projects, including inner city schools, mixed-use buildings and multi-unit housing. The firm has received numerous awards for implementing her forward looking ideas of sustainability, proactive use of new building materials and application of color kinetic lighting as a powerful tool of urban revitalization.
Dr. Doytcheva brings substantial experience in user-tailored facilities to provide most efficient planning and memorable designs. The projects in her 30 year career range from large hospital complexes, high rise office buildings to academic facilities, student housing and laboratories. Her extraordinary life journey has created the opportunity to be an “international” architect with work spanning over three continents – Europe, North America and Asia.
Additional Speaker
Elizabeth Melas, LEED AP, Director of Capital Projects, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
Elizabeth Melas was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where she still resides. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University and a Masters of Architecture from The Illinois Institute of Technology. She is a LEED accredited professional and environmental advocate.
Elizabeth is the Director of the Capital Projects Department at Rush University Medical Center where she is responsible for the planning and implementation of all capital construction projects with an annual budget of over $100 Million. Elizabeth started at Rush in June, 2012 where she was the Senior Project Manager.
Prior to joining Rush, Elizabeth spent 16 years in Cook County’s Office of Capital Planning & Policy where she was a Project Director from 1995 – 2002 and then the Deputy Director from 2002 – 2011. In this role, Elizabeth managed many large scale institutional projects totaling over $1 Billion in construction.
In addition to her architectural career, Elizabeth has been an accomplished photographer for more than three decades. She has had exhibitions of her work in Chicago, New York and Paris.
In 2005, Elizabeth was selected as a fellow to The International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation. This prestigious award is granted to professional women who have established themselves in their chosen field. Elizabeth is also a past board member and programming chair of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s New Group. Most recently she was a speaker for the Health Care Facilities Symposium and Expo in Austin Texas, October 2017 on the subject of “Becoming a More Balanced, Diverse, Inclusive, and Collaborative Healthcare Design Community” and for a case study “Outpatient Pediatrics at Rush University Medical Center.
Vlad Torskiy, MHA, ACHE, IAIA, LEAN Heathcare CP, Principal/Heath Care Studio Leader, SmithGroupJJR
“I’m a perpetual learner,” states Vlad, an observation readily reflected in his resume: Vlad holds four master’s degrees—in architecture, healthcare administration, fine arts, and architecture and urban design—earned from academic institutions in the Ukraine, Israel and the United States. It all intersects beautifully in his role as Health Studio Leader in SmithGroupJJR’s Chicago office. “Working in the field of healthcare architecture and planning integrates my passion toward natural sciences, research and teaching with architecture,” Vlad remarks. “It means everything to me. It allows one to be part of the healing process and creation of a healing environment. It saves patients’ lives.” Vlad’s penchant for blending talents also extends to his personal interests. He’d enjoy returning to an unusual sport, he says “that I was professionally associated with in my youth—triathlon, which includes fin-swimming, action shooting, and underwater target shooting.”
Vlad is passionate about educating colleagues and others within the healthcare industry. He can often be found on the presentation circuit at conferences across the nation. Recent speaking engagements include:
“Interventional Platform Operations: Public and Private Sector Comparison,” HFSE (2015); “Healthcare Advisory: Building Futures,” Chicago Healthcare Advisory Council (2014); “IPE in Healthcare and Universities: Toolkit Brainstorming,” D.C. Healthcare and Higher Ed Council (2014); “Saint Mary’s Health Care – LEAN Operations Process Improvement,” HFSE (2013); “Reinventing Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Design in Urban Environments,” HFSE (2012); “Automatic Transportation Systems in Healthcare: Funding, Budget, ROI,” HFSE (2011); “Facilities Lifecycle Planning and Management: Technologies in Healthcare,” Tradeline (2011); “AMC Operations & Logistics: Implementation of Robotics Systems,” Healthcare Design Conference (2009)
Vlad has also authored the book “Hospital on the Time Axis”, Ball State University. ISBN 978-0-557-34141-1 (2010)