Healthcare Design - August 2023 - 96

f a ce Time
LUKE LEYDEN
The assistant director and chief architect at University
of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (Iowa City, Iowa) talks
about his fi rst project, advocating for patients, and the
prized limbo trophy on his desk.-Tracey Walker
DOG OR CAT?
Dog! Their loyalty and
obedience make them
great companions.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST
HEALTHCARE PROJECT?
The 200,000-square-foot Pomerantz Family
Pavilion West addition on the University of Iowa
Hospitals & Clinics main campus. The lower level
held radiation oncology, and the upper floors
were shell space for future buildout. I led a project
years later to fit out several of those floors with
exam rooms and chemotherapy infusion spaces
for oncology.
FAVORITE WEEKEND ACTIVITY
Bike riding on a trail near my house. The trail used to
be railroad tracks, so it's long and flat with a beautiful
tree canopy. It's a great opportunity to connect
with nature and clear my head.
AN UNEXPECTED ITEM ON
YOUR DESK
WHAT LESSON FROM THAT
PROJECT DO YOU STILL
CARRY WITH YOU TODAY?
That it's our responsibility to help advocate for
the patients and their experience. For this project,
backlit glass artwork was installed in the ceiling
above the linear accelerators to give patients a
calming distraction during their treatment. On
all the projects I work on, I still try to view things
from the patient's perspective and develop ways to
improve their experience, from working on a wayfinding
master plan to aid patients and families
as they traverse our large campus to respite areas
with exterior views.
A limbo trophy from the networking event at the 2017
Healthcare Design Conference + Expo. I wasn't an
official winner, but according to my own calculations,
I finished third. I had such a great time that night and
wanted to celebrate the experience, so I had my own
trophy made, which I keep on my desk.
IF YOU WEREN'T AN
ARCHITECT, YOU WOULD BE ...
An engineer. I thrive on being able to develop
solutions.
FAVORITE CITY TO VISIT
Clearwater, Fla. I have traveled there several times
with my family and love the beach.
WHAT CHALLENGES ABOUT
YOUR WORK KEEP YOU UP
AT NIGHT?
Our institution is rapidly growing and, although
we have some upcoming large projects, finding
space for our current needs is becoming difficult.
FAVORITE QUOTE
" THE ONLY TIME I SET THE BAR LOW IS FOR LIMBO. "
-Michael Scott, " The Office. "
THREE RECENT HEALTHCARE PROJECTS
AND YOUR ROLE
1
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (UIHC) North Liberty at
Forevergreen Road campus, Iowa City, Iowa, owner's architect.
2
3
96
UIHC inpatient tower, Iowa City, owner's architect.
UIHC Stead Family Children's Hospital NICU shell floor fit
out, Iowa City, owner's architect.
FAVORITE TEAM
Iowa Hawkeyes football.
FIRST ALBUM YOU
EVER BOUGHT
The Smashing Pumpkins'
" Mellon Collie and the
Infinite Sadness. "
MORNING PERSON
OR NIGHT OWL?
Night owl. When I need to
meet with members of the
surgery team, it's usually
early mornings before
their first cases-I dread
those meetings.
HOW DID YOU
MAKE YOUR FIRST
DOLLAR?
I worked during the summer
for my cousin installing
fl ooring. Although it was
hard work, I enjoyed the
different challenges, and it
was my fi rst exposure
to construction.
YOUR HIDDEN
TALENT
Singing, but my friends
and family would disagree!
FAVORITE SPORT
Supercross. I grew up
riding dirt bikes, so I
really enjoy watching it.
Our family has a fantasy
league, and we always
have people we cheer for.
AU GUST 2023
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Healthcare Design - August 2023

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