Commercial Architecture May 2017 - 5

EDITOR'S

notebook

Two Articles To Consider

hen senior editor Ken Betz and I sat down this
past summer to decide what topics he would
cover in our 2017 main features, healthcare ar-

ticles came up on the list. We were talking about all kinds of
things that could make a story, such as flooring, lighting, traffic
flow, and biophilia. All of our ideas were oriented from the patient's view and experience. At some point in the discussion, one
of us, probably Ken (he's the creative one), asked the question:
What about the caregivers?
That got the wheels spinning because it put a new perspective
on healthcare design for us. Just what about those people who
have to be at the top of their game for full shifts and, in many
cases, double shifts? What is done in medical-care design to
make their jobs easier and to help them focus, oftentimes under
significant stress?
For me, that was the end of it until the finished article that
resulted from that discussion showed up on my computer screen
(it's on p. 10). I was excited to read it because I was curious about
what Ken uncovered in his interviews. What did he learn about
lighting, air quality, working space, cafeterias, and other building
components and how they affect caregivers?

Left. While design and furnishings are important when designing healthcare facilities, also consider the
caregivers, who often simply need a place to get away.
Right. The Leo A Daly architects preserved the historic Watterston mansion and added this modern office and
meeting building to the back elevation.

Turns out he learned a few things about the components, but
that isn't the core of the story. The story ended up being more
about creating spaces that allow humans to do the human part

THE LIBRARIAN LIVED THERE

of their jobs. That part involves having space to actually work,

The second article I'd like you to consider, "Preservation and Ex-

quiet areas for tasks that require concentration, rooms to private-

pansion on Capitol Hill," p. 16, is about one of my favorite types

ly collaborate with colleagues and, probably most important,

of projects-preserving an historic building and making it work

places where caregivers can go to get away from it all. Sometimes

for today's commercial needs. The story is about the work the

just to cry.

Leo A Daly people did to preserve the George Watterston man-

As I read the article, I also recalled a couple of recent "Archi-

sion, which was his home when he served as the country's third

tects" columns, specifically the Jan/Feb 2017 issue (p. 6) in

Librarian of Congress. The article tells the history of the home

which Danette Ferretti and Stuart Fromson from Carrier John-

and the families that lived there and the renovation/conversion

son + CULTURE, San Diego, talked about flexible workspaces

that has now made it home to the National Indian Gaming As-

and the April 2017 issue (p. 6) in which Robert Skolozdra of

sociation, a Native American lobbying organization.

Svigals+Partners, New Haven, CT, talked about designing effec-

While preserving the original home/façade, the talented

tive research facilities. The theme in those articles wasn't neces-

Daly architects designed a large three-story addition behind the

sarily functional furniture and good lighting, either. It was creat-

house that contains a two-floor multi-media conference space

ing spaces in which people can relax and focus on their jobs,

and executive offices. Parking also presented a challenge since

rather than being in constant conflict with their environment.

you can't just level and pave a piece of ground in Washington's

In my podcast discussions with those architects, it was clear

Capitol Hill neighborhood. The Daly solution? A car elevator to

that they operate from the occupant perspective, as do the archi-

an underground garage. This is a fascinating story about an ar-

tects interviewed in Ken's caregiver article. I know that it's not a

chitectural challenge that is packed with history. I'm confident

new approach. I just hope it's prevalent.

you'll enjoy it. CA

Gary L. Parr
Editorial Director
commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

MAY 2017

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/smart-design-equals-flexible-workplaces/ http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/design-for-research-breakthroughs/ http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture May 2017