Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 9

FEATURE

healthy hospitals

Opposite page. The concept behind the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Chicago, is known as translational medicine, which centers on physicians,
therapists, and research scientists working with patients in an open
setting called an ability lab. Photo: Dave Burk, courtesy Gensler/HDR
Right. One of the most direct outcomes from effective daylighting
is shorter patient stays, but extending that concept to the clinician
workplace, such as this meeting space in the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab,
Chicago, is expected to have comparable results on effectiveness and
overall engagement of the healthcare teams. Photo: Tom Harris, courtesy Gensler/HDR
Below right. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in West
Harrison, NY, the third major project EwingCole has completed for MSK,
began with a 1950s office building and transformed it into a sophisticated, serene environment for the care of cancer patients. Connecting with
the landscape was particularly important. Photo: Courtesy EwingCole

nomenon that only promises to grow. Inventive reuse of
these facilities can extend the useful life of buildings
around the healthcare system's mission and help to create
more livable communities," he added.
"The health of the natural environment is the foundation for community, financial, and individual wellness,"
commented Maria Papiez, AIA, EwingCole, Philadelphia. "Since many of us spend 90% of our time indoors,
the built environment is often a bridge between people
and nature. That bridge is extra important in healthcare
settings, as research has shown positive impacts on healing time and patient satisfaction when we have connections to nature. The healthcare typology exemplifies the
importance of a dual focus on sustainability-protecting
nature that our health depends on and designing environments that promote wellness. Our opportunity as designers is to understand that the built environment plays a vital role in health and healing, and to design spaces that
support the care provided by medical staff," she said.
"One of our long-term healthcare clients, Geisinger
Health System, Danville, PA, has a deep understanding
of this relationship," Papiez noted. "While undertaking a
recent large-scale central energy plant upgrade, Geisinger
not only made decisions based on significantly improved
efficiency and cost savings, but also described the concomitant improvement to population health outcomes,
such as asthma attacks, work-loss days, and direct medical costs, as well."
FINANCIAL PRESSURE

Going green may not be the first thing that comes to hos-

in the health of the planet, but it is often not one of the

pital administrators' minds. Most rank financial pressure

driving principles for the work-it should be. There are

as their top concern, so linking sustainability to financial

many examples of successful healthcare environments

performance is critical, Guillot thinks. "If you can show

where a person's health and responsible use of resources

a significant annual energy savings by acting sustainably,

has produced transformative results."

it becomes a business imperative," he said. "In addition,

Citing the Sustainability Roadmap for Hospitals

it doesn't take a big leap to link sustainability and green

(2010), Guillot noted that CEOs who pursue sustainable

building to health, at the very least our shared interest

building strategies do so for these reasons:

*
*
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*
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improving brand image and reputation
saving money
increasing employee satisfaction and retention
managing risk and regulatory compliance
improving facility operations and pursuing performance excellence

* demonstrating corporate social responsibility.
Another factor that makes hospitals and related facili-

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SEPTEMBER 2017

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture September 2017