Each day, I experience healthcare from the designer's standpoint. I visit hospitals and healthcare centers every week for project meetings, walkthroughs, presentations, survey work and punch listing.

Over the years, I have realized what a significant purpose our designs have for the caregivers who work in the space day in and day out. Seeing them in action gives me new perspective on their daily tasks and the understanding that, where possible, our designs must function in a flexible manner for years after we have completed the work.

At the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manhattan, we are working to expand and modernize a busy emergency department while keeping it operational 24/7. The 25,000 SF expansion will improve patient throughput as well as provide the VA with guidelines for future ED design. The case study below details our approach - from feasibility study through phased implementation.

I find the work for our federal clients to be very rewarding, especially when it is the patients and staff benefitting from the work we put into making a space more navigable, more approachable, more efficient and more beautiful.