With each year of Healthcare Facilities Forum, the inspiration and healthcare design camaraderie only blossoms. When one thinks they are at capacity for ideas, inspiration, motivation in the realm of healthcare design, then one’s mind is cracked wide open with further possibility. And the 2019 Healthcare Facilities Forum was no different.
Design experts from around the state converged once again at the Los Angeles Steelcase/Tangram Showroom. The Forum is what occurs while lawmakers debate programs and benefits. Those charged with the delivery of care gather and tap into research, the advances in medical technology, innovations in bio-science.
This year was also the first for the AIA California Healthcare Facilities Forum Scholarship which was awarded to Vy Nguyen, Abeeha Awan, Johnathan Perry and Kristin Lorentzen. The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage and support architecture students interested in pursuing a career in the design and delivery of hospitals and healing environments. “This scholarship is an opportunity to give back to our community in a meaningful way and to continue the passion for healthcare design by supporting the next generation of architects,” said HFF Committee member, Trisha Clark, Assoc. AIA.
Perhaps one of the most emotional moments at the day-long event was when Derek Parker, FAIA, RIBA received the Healthcare Facilities Forum Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in healthcare design. His acceptance speech was less about him and more about those whom healthcare design serves. “We are the only architects who design for people who don’t want to be in our buildings. People want to be in restaurants, museums, libraries, places of entertainment, but no one wants to be in a hospital,” he said. Also, thank you to the sponsors for making this event possible. From the scholarship to the location and the event itself, all contributions are appreciated.
