Healthcare Design - April 2020 - 48

fac e

Time

SHEILA RUDER

Principal and senior medical planner, health practice
director, HKS, Denver
As a child, Sheila Ruder knew architecture was in her future,
but it wasn't until she walked into Professor George Mann's
class at Texas A&M University that she fell in love with the complexities and
impact of healthcare design. She's spent the last 17 years honing her design (and
Nerf war) skills working at HKS offices across the U.S. -Anne DiNardo

When I was 8 years old, I would draw my dream
house. It was in plan view and included multiple
levels, considering the implications that the
elements of one floor would have on adjacent
floors.

TELL US HOW YOU GOT INTO
H E A LT H C A R E D E S I G N ?
As a new graduate student at Texas A&M, I
enrolled in a vertical studio for my first semester
to mix with third-year undergraduates. The studio
was one of Professor George Mann's health
design studios, and the rest is history. I fell in
love with the complexities of healthcare design as
well as the potential impact. In addition, I have a
special needs niece who inspired my final study
project, and that opportunity was very eyeopening and rewarding.

THREE UNEXPECTED ITEMS ON
YOUR DESK

1 Nerf Strongarm Blaster Gun.
Our office has epic Nerf battles!

2 a "Dammit Doll" (because who
doesn't need one at work?)

3 3-D-printed brain from an AI/
IOT Symposium that our office
recently hosted.

F AV O R I T E ...

Lean. It paves
the way for true
analysis of our processes and our designs
to maximize the value of
the work we do and the
projects we deliver.

 

Too many mixed
patterns. They
can create visual overload, causing confusion
and anxiety, especially
for those with dementia
or sensory sensitivities.

G U I LT Y P L E A S U R E Watching "Big Brother."
A P P / W E B S I T E Amazon, hands down.
B A N D / M U S I C A L A R T I S T The great and timeless
Frank Sinatra.

Yes. Variety is the spice
of life. In addition,
local beverages and
cuisines enrich the travel
experience.

HOW DID YOU
MAKE YOUR FIRST
DOLLAR?
I worked a newspaper
route when I was in
elementary school.

FIRST ALBUM YOU
EVER BOUGHT?
My sister and I had a
stack of Bee Gees 45s.

S N A C K W H E N Y O U T R AV E L Hot Fries and
Mountain Dew.
I C E C R E A M F L AV O R Ben & Jerry's Phish Food.
B O O K "Greyfriars Bobby" by Eleanor
Atkinson. It's a heartwarming story about love
and loyalty.

1
2
3

Parkland Outpatient Clinic in Dallas, principal in
charge and senior medical planner
Integris Edmond Clinic Prototype in Edmond,
Okla., project director

Mental and behavioral health project for a large
academic medical system, medical planner.

APRIL 2020

BEER, WINE, OR
LIQUOR?

C O L O R All shades and hues of blue.

NAME THREE RECENT PROJECTS
YOU'VE WORKED ON AND YOUR
ROLE ON EACH ONE

48

Morning-but only
with coffee.

W E E K E N D A C T I V I T Y Running, hiking, traveling,
hanging out with family.

S O C I A L M E D I A O U T L E T LinkedIn.

ON INDUSTRY TRENDS

MORNING PERSON
OR NIGHT OWL?

HCDMAGAZINE.COM

IF YOU WEREN'T
A N A R C H I T E C T,
YOU'D BE ...
A travel guide writer. In
addition to vacations,
I've worked in several
HKS offices in the U.S.
and visited several of
our 23 global offices.

YOUR HIDDEN
TA L E N T ?
Navigating highways
and mountain passes in
foreign countries from
the wrong side of the
road and the wrong side
of the car.

RENDERING BY RUPERT BROWN, HKS

W H AT WA S A N E A R LY S I G N
T H AT A R C H I T E C T U R E WA S T H E
CAREER FOR YOU?

D O G O R C AT ?
Both. I currently have two
cats who keep each other
company when I travel.
http://www.HCDMAGAZINE.COM
Healthcare Design - April 2020

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