Healthcare Design - May 2023 - 56

f a ce Time
DAPHNE CORONA
The behavioral health designer at NBBJ (Los Angeles)
shares what drew her to the industry, her project
approach, and how she unleashes her creativity in and
out of the offi ce.-Anne DiNardo
COFFEE OR TEA?
Coffeeeeeee. I'm
(affectionately) known by
my family as the " Dragon
Lady " until I have my first
cup. The best thing ever
invented is my Ember mug
that keeps my coffee warm
all morning.
WHAT DREW YOU TO A CAREER
IN HEALTHCARE DESIGN?
I've always been drawn to projects where I can
connect to my community in a meaningful way. I
started my career designing K-12 public schools in
New York City, where I immersed myself in observation
of how environments can have a deep impact
(positively and negatively) on mental well-being and
achievement. Moving into healthcare gave me the
opportunity to impact a service that is so innately
human and intimate.
AN UNEXPECTED ITEM ON
YOUR DESK
Behind my home desk, I have an antique brass
clock I bought at an estate sale. It weighs about
50 pounds and looks like it was recovered from
the Titanic. It doesn't work, so if you're in a Zoom
meeting with me, it's always 11:55.
HOW DID YOU
MAKE YOUR FIRST
DOLLAR?
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE, WE'LL
LIKELY FIND YOU ...
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST
HEALTHCARE PROJECT?
The first large project I led was the LA County Rancho
Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, a designbuild
project. They treat patients recovering from
life-altering brain and spinal cord injuries, most of
whom are wheelchair bound. Besides treatment,
many patients go there for the rest of their lives for
general support, so we designed spaces for driving
training, a wheelchair sport court, and a model home
for learning accessible basic tasks such as washing
clothes and bathing.
WHAT LESSON FROM THAT
PROJECT DO YOU STILL CARRY
WITH YOU TODAY?
I don't need to be an expert in the nuance of every
single healthcare specialty to design the space. What
I do need to be is a good listener and approach each
problem from a learning mindset.
Biking with my young son. I lived in Amsterdam
before Los Angeles, so I can bike in high heels
while holding a coffee and an umbrella.
As a teenager I worked at
a fl ower shop after school
taking orders and cleaning.
The fl oral designers
taught me how to arrange
with balance in color
composition. It was the entry
into my design passion.
DOG OR CAT?
I have both. My senior cat, Pickles, I adopted as a
stray kitten from Amsterdam. Topi the Corgi is a
new addition, just four months old, and already
attending events with me as the face of NBBJ LA
with those adorable giant ears.
YOUR GO-TO
KARAOKE SONG
My sister and I are famous
for our Jackson 5 duets. She's
always annoyed because
I frequently take over both
Jermaine's and Michael's
parts. I just can't help it!
FAVORITE CITY TO VISIT
Reykjavik, Iceland. I read an article in Food &
Wine from an Icelandic chef and all her favorite
places, and the photo of the Blue Lagoon sealed
the deal. This summer will be my third visit.
THREE RECENT HEALTHCARE DESIGN
PROJECTS AND YOUR ROLE
1
Montage Health Ohana Center for adolescent behavioral
health, Monterey, Calif., project manager.
2
3
University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute
Translational Research Center, Salt Lake City, project
manager.
Confidential behavioral health campus master plan,
San Diego, project manager.
FAVORITE BOOK
I rediscovered the pleasure
of reading just for fun
during the pandemic. I
gravitate toward female
writers, and " Fates
and Furies " started my
obsession with Lauren
Groff. It's nonconformist,
emotionally complicated,
stunningly beautiful.
56
MAY 2023
HCDMAGAZINE.COM
IF YOU WEREN'T
AN ARCHITECT, YOU
WOULD BE ...
A journalist. This was my
first major in college before
switching to architecture,
as I love unleashing my
creativity in writing as well
as design.
NBBJ (MONTAGE HEALTH); DENNISVDWATER/STOCK.ADOBE.COM (BICYCLE)
http://www.HCDMAGAZINE.COM
Healthcare Design - May 2023

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