GS&P DIALOGUE - "Interior Design"

Customs and Border Protection: It's No Ellis Island

Fri, 11 May 2012 09:02:26 GMT

Ellis Island was once the most famous and glamorized national gateway to these United States. An award-winning architectural landmark, it was often referred to as the "Island of Tears" due to the experience of some travelers as they were denied entrance into the country after a long voyage. As the jet age moved into full swing and now with international travel becoming more common place, scenes of grand entrances at ports like Ellis Island have largely been replaced by hurried passengers being screened through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services at International airports across the country. In an effort to remain competitive, facilities are focused on enhancing the passenger experience and creating a welcoming sense of place as travelers enter the U.S., with the success of a CBP often being based on its ability to process a certain number of passengers-per-hour. With heightened security measures and changing passenger expectations, the design of International terminals may play a large a role as they ever have in delivering a positive experience to international travelers.

Designers To The Rescue: The Role of Hospital Design In Improving Patient Safety

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:09:58 GMT

As a healthcare researcher, patient safety – and its relationship to hospital design – has been one of my primary focuses over the years. The link between the physical environment and health-related outcomes is undeniable, and the healthcare industry is directing more and more time and energy to understanding how successful design can improve patient safety across the board. And as the medical community turns to architects and designers for answers, evidence-based design takes center stage.

The Rise of Mobile Technology in the Healthcare Arena

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:57:32 GMT

My colleague Jack Weber recently reminded us in a GS&P Dialogue post that, for most things design-related, "there’s an app for that." In the healthcare arena, this statement is also becoming more of a reality every day as our healthcare clients grow increasingly interested in emerging technology trends. So what does this mean for us as architects and designers?

Utilizing Workplace Strategies to Stay Relevant

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:12:40 GMT

At a dinner in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago with other design leaders from nationally recognized Interior and Architectural firms, the question was posed "What keeps us up at night?". One of my answers was "Staying Relevant."

As we continue to deal with clients who have vast differences in knowledge about, experience with, and opinions of approaches to workplace, it is becoming more and more challenging and at the same time more important to stay relevant to their reality. We cannot assume that everyone is looking to incorporate the next technological advancement in workplace or to match the "Google" world of working. Some are considering options that are considered cutting edge, while others are barely thinking about laptops and wireless networks.

No Boundaries: Technology & Connectivity In Design

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:54:22 GMT

As architects and designers, we often ask: What's the catalyst for open, collaborative offices becoming so popular so fast? And what's allowing us to successfully create these spaces for our clients?

We talk plenty about workplace design theories and practices, but now let's discuss the role of technology in motivating and facilitating the workplace design revolution.

There's an App for Everything

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:42:29 GMT

There really does seem to be an app for everything these days. With so many tools available that are designed to help our lives move more efficiently, it can sometimes feel overwhelming and inefficient trying to weed through them all. Through trial and error I have found several that I use nearly every day in my work as an Interior Designer and Workplace Strategist that help me in the office but also keep me organized when I'm on-the-go.

Furniture, Finishes and Fixtures Holiday Wish List

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:42:05 GMT

Is it just me, or does the Holiday rush keep inching earlier and earlier every year? Stores have Christmas decorations up before Halloween and Black Friday sales are creeping into Thursday. However, now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, I'm officially ready to join the masses and gear up for the Holiday season!

I put a lot of thought into the gifts I purchase for friends and family - hoping when they open the shiny packages, they find something perfectly suited for them. Along those lines, I thought it would be fun to put together a "wish list" of some new (and some not so new) items that I would love to specify for just the right client in the coming year.

Designing to Improve Workers' Health

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:49:53 GMT

We have all read the news articles and heard the radio reports that our nation is getting heavier and that the obesity epidemic is growing exponentially. My home state of Tennessee is one of America's most unhealthy: it currently ranks 46th in adult obesity (and was 48th in 2010!). Other States where GS&P has office locations are nearly as unhealthy. Go here to see how your state measures up: http://healthyamericans.org/report/88/

So what can we as designers do to make healthy choices easier and more obvious? The design of the built environment (in architecture, interior design and urban design) can greatly increase daily users' physical activity in order to promote these regular instances of physical activity. According to research, workers spend as much of 90% of their time indoors, engaged in sedentary occupations. Providing opportunities to use the stairs, to walk to the copy machine, or to workout without leaving the building break up long periods of inactivity and provide easily accessible ways to engage in physical activity.

Designing (Not Documenting) For LEED

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:29:14 GMT

Ask any architect, engineer or designer for his thoughts on LEED certification, and you’ll likely get a mixed bag of reactions. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as a green building certification system, LEED has only been around for a decade or so, and its popularity didn’t start to boom until fairly recently. As it’s gained prominence in design firms and organizations, professionals in my industry have not only become familiar with the many benefits of LEED certification, but we’ve also become familiar with its difficulties.

What's Driving Change in Workplace Design

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:57:31 GMT

Up until the last 10 or 15 years, design for workplaces had not significantly changed. A combination of closed offices, open work stations, conference rooms, a reception area, one break room, file room and a work/copy room were the predominant space types within the typical office. The ratio of closed offices to open work stations fluctuated as the trend pendulum swung back and forth. So what has happened in the last 15 years that has led to the evolution of the workplace? And how exactly have we evolved?

Safety First

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:40:07 GMT

October 9-15 is National Fire Prevention Week; a commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that has been observed since 1922. The fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9.

As designers of buildings we are continually faced with rigorous building code requirements intended to protect the health, safety and welfare of their occupants. There are a few simple things we can do to effectively protect from death or injury in a fire, but there are some things being done in the name of fire safety that are actually ineffective and harmful. It is important that we as specifiers know what we are specifying and why we are doing so.

Does Office Design Affect An Employee's Mood?

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:45:05 GMT

Does the design of your office affect the mood of your employees? The Wall Street Journal and NPR recently reported on research studies conducted by a variety of institutions that support an answer of "yes" to architecture and design not only influencing our mood, but also our thoughts and our health.

I've been an interior designer for more than 25 years, and I live for this type of information. Our job as designers is to translate this research evidence into the design solutions we develop for our clients each day - creating a smarter office space that helps them to achieve their unique goals. The news coverage got me thinking of examples of how our team has utilized research evidence in recent office designs.

Airport Passenger Terminals: From Master Plans to Reality

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:58:10 GMT

Transforming the passenger terminal vision contained in your Master Plan Study to the most viable design and construction project requires a balance be established among all stake holders, guided by commonly shared goals.

Terminal planners and architects both embrace the vision that your airport will be the "Gateway" to your community. The common goal that any terminal project should enhance the passenger's experience goes without question. Proposing short term design solutions to meet the needs of passengers, airlines, airport tenants and administrations are relatively easy, and stake holders can generally agree on a direction without much debate. However, long term terminal development plans require a higher level of insight, trust and imagination by all parties.

Lessons Lived and Learned on Designing Our Tenant Office Space for LEED Certification

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:55:53 GMT

In reviewing your real estate portfolio, have you ever questioned the importance or significance that LEED Certification might have? Is it just a fad that has already seen its peak? Is the process simply too much to endure? If you don't have a budget to renovate much, is Certification out of reach?

We asked ourselves all of these questions and more before GS&P's Jacksonville office went through the LEED-Certification process and I'm proud to say I've lived to tell the tale. It was an eye-opener to see the employee excitement and engagement as we went through the process. We were surprised by the interest and participation from our landlord and we couldn't have predicted the impact of the intangible benefits we've experienced since the completion.

"If I were in your shoes" - Designing for the Alzheimer’s Patient Clinical Experience

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:20:45 GMT

It is estimated that there are more than 5.1 million people in the U.S. today who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. If you have not had the opportunity to spend time with a family member or friend who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related dementia, it is an eye opening experience. My initial exposure to the disease was during a typical annual trip up north to visit my grandmother. At first, it seemed as though she was behaving normally. She was excited to see me - smiling, talking, and moving about without difficulty. She appeared to be taking care of herself quite well. However, it was during our later conversations about the past, while perusing old photos, and discussing more recent events that I noticed she could not retain simple details we had talked about just 5 minutes prior. The answer seemed simple to me; to just speak more slowly, repeat my answers to her questions. I thought I understood what she was experiencing.

Protecting Patients From Themselves, and More

Wed, 18 May 2011 08:30:18 GMT

A distraught patient admitted to a behavioral health unit at a major teaching hospital is found hanging from a closet door, having committed suicide sometime between 15-minute security checks. This scenario is all too common. Approximately 1,500 suicides occur each year in inpatient hospital units. Suicide is the leading cause of violent deaths in the United States, and ranks as the 11th most common cause of death in our country. In fear, we lock our car doors when driving through the “bad part of town”, often without realizing that nearly twice as many people die from suicide than homicide each year. Keep locking your doors, but don’t dismiss the fact that suicide is a real threat for many in our population, both young and old, suffering from addictions, unfortunate circumstances, or mental illness.

The Pros and Cons of Single Family NICU Rooms

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:30:12 GMT

For no apparent reason my son, Noah, was born five weeks early. That may seem like no big deal, but when you’re a first-time parent and your tiny baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) attached to all sorts of devices… it's a REALLY big deal. I gave birth in what is known as the “baby factory”, a metropolitan hospital in the southeast which delivers approximately 18,000 babies each year. The care we received was outstanding. The neonatologists and NICU nurses were incredible. I’ll never forget Nurse “Q” as she cuddled my son and affectionately called him Boo Boo.

In spite of the high quality of care we received, I was uncomfortable in the NICU environment. As I passed by, I glanced at the other NICU babies (although I knew I shouldn’t stare), some much smaller than my own. I was intimidated by the tubes and needles and beeping alarms all around. I felt uncomfortable trying to breastfeed with just a privacy curtain separating me from the others in the room. The nurses recommended we provide our baby with skin-to-skin contact (known as “kangaroo care”), but that too felt awkward given the limited privacy, so I didn’t do it much. As my son’s condition improved over the next several days, he was moved into a room that housed only three infants, and I was more comfortable in that environment. Of course Noah was healthier too, so that eased my mind.

Are You There Airport Director? It's Me, the Terminal

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:05:02 GMT

Dear Airport Director,

Excuse me, but have you seen me lately? I'm not exactly a spring chicken any more. Us boomers have to look after ourselves you know. A few upgrades would go a long way to bridging the gap between today and retirement. I think you should really consider a few investments in this terminal body.

Have you seen my friends CHO and TPA? Wow, are they looking good! Refurbished terrazzo, no more spalling, no more dull spots. Good to go for many more years and the updates help them to become easier to maintain too.

Have you heard the talk about how energy efficient I could become? New energy efficient light fixtures would almost pay for themselves. And the cost to keep me conditioned? An upgrade here or there could save energy and lower some bills. It wouldn't hurt to save some money now to put into my retirement account.

Standardized Environments and Same-Handed Rooms; The Debate Continues

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:50:57 GMT

Throughout my professional career I've been focused on designing healthcare environments. Over the past several years, I'm glad to say that I've seen a steady increased interest in correlating how facility design can directly impact healthcare and healing environments. With this week marking the 9th annual National Patient Safety Awareness Week, I thought it appropriate to stir the debate on standardization and same-handed room design. This is a topic on which everyone seems to have an opinion.

Individual workspaces are shrinking! But, is that bad?

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:00:39 GMT

Yes, it's true. Our offices and cubicles are getting smaller. But if companies are planning their workplaces correctly, we might be losing a little personal space, but we're gaining access to a wider variety of places to work.

Work stations or cubicles are getting smaller because the things that used to occupy space within them are getting smaller. Smaller computers convert to shallower work surfaces, less paper transcends into the need for less work surface and file storage. New technologies in seating translate to smaller more comfortable task chairs.

The Evolving Workplace – How to Meet Expectations of Millennials at Work

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:10:14 GMT

When organizations consider their future, they will be looking forward to the day when growth is steady, and they can begin to hire new employees. It will happen. It’s just a matter of time.

Now is the time to ask - Is your workplace attractive to your next hire(s)?

That new hire will likely be a Millennial – born between 1980 and 2000. Within the Millennial generation; approximately 50 million are between the ages of 18-29. A recent report from the Pew Research Center shows that of these 50 million, about 37% (or ~18.5 million) have been underemployed or out of work during the recession - the highest share among the age group in more than 30 years. Despite this fact, Millennials are still upbeat. Most notably, they are on track to become the most educated generation.

Empowering a Mobile Workforce

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:49:05 GMT

Why do many of us work at one location all day long? What ties us down? What if you could choose where you wanted to work each day? Would it be the same space in the same office? Would you choose a different location in or out of the office to complete different tasks? Would you prefer a closed space sometimes and an open space at other times?

Good Design is Good Business

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:53:30 GMT

Sometimes it seems so obvious to me...but then again, I’m biased. Why don’t companies pay more attention to the design of the office environment?

Reduce Office Space Needs While Enhancing Work Conditions

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:57:35 GMT

In times of economic uncertainty there is typically an increase in scrutiny on corporate expenses and organizations begin to look for ways to create greater efficiencies. When reviewing overhead expenses, real estate line items are likely to rise to the top. Tenants are looking for ways to operate with fewer square-feet, while landlords and developers look for ways to remain competitive in the market to draw and retain tenants.