Healthcare Design - August 2016 - 123

ADVERTISEMENT

Q&A

with Eric Koffler
healthcare studio leader, HED
(Harley Ellis Devereaux)
What is technology's
role in the design of
healthcare spaces?
Architects and designers
are trained to visualize a
2-D plan into 3-D. With
most clinicians unable to
do the same, it's important
to look at how technology
can help close this
communication gap. In our
client meetings, we make
live changes to 3-D building
information models, give
virtual walkthroughs, and
will soon be integrating
virtual reality headsets as
part of our process. The
experience, the quality, and
the expectations of a space
can be realized early in the
process greatly reducing
change orders down the
road. These technologies
have moved beyond
gimmick to an important
part of the design process.
What role does
collaboration play in
your process? How do

you ensure the right
people have a voice at
the design table?
We utilize a workshop
approach in lieu of
a typical user-group
meeting whenever a
project allows for it.
Collaboration between
all decision makers
and stakeholders:
Clinicians, architects,
designers, engineers,
and contractors; in a
longer intense meeting
advances the design
quicker and removes a lot
of the waste associated
with the traditional linear
process. This often
ends the meeting with
design development-level
drawings, saving time and
the cost associated with
traditional methods.  This
lean, collaborative process
has seen much success
from our large outpatient
ambulatory care centers to
technically focused cath
lab renovation projects.

What are some
challenges your firm
is facing? How do
you overcome those
obstacles? 
Our healthcare team
has evolved into a
national studio working
across multiple offices,
which comes with some
challenges. We've had to
figure out how to share
resources between the
offices, and create wellinformed project teams
while coordinating with
consultants across the
country. Infusing strategic
hires with national project
experience into the
firm is one way we are
overcoming the transition
from a mid-size firm to
a national platform. This

strategy has not only raised
the caliber of critical thinking
and design excellence within
the firm, but is giving HED the
opportunity to pursue large
projects in new geographies.
Tell us something surprising
about your company that
people may not know.
You may not know that
HED has designed seven
cardiovascular centers in the
past 10 years. We are seeing
"hybrid" rooms replaced
with "advanced procedure"
spaces. This is not just a
better description of the room
but describes the future of
cardiovascular procedures. The
interventional suite is evolving
from a highly specialized set
of procedure spaces into
more universal and adaptable
areas. We encourage clients
when looking at new centers
or projects involving procedure
rooms to design them with
advanced procedures in mind. 
Physicians will be pushing
manufacturers toward more
flexible platforms as patient
procedures continue to evolve.  
www.harleyellisdevereaux.com

Children's Hospital of Michigan, Troy, Mich. Photo: Justin Maconochie.
http://www.harleyellisdevereaux.com http://www.harleyellisdevereaux.com
Healthcare Design - August 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - August 2016
