The healthcare designers at Anshen & Allen have teamed up with the International Facility Management Association’s Health Care Council to design the “Green Patient Lab”. The room is a traveling exhibit that displays how easily and effectively sustainable practices can be applied in the healthcare setting. Historically, hospitals and other healthcare facilities have been slow to catch up to the green movement because of their 24-hour-a-day operating schedule and need for highly durable and cleanable materials.
Finally, the need for natural materials and energy efficiency has taken hold. The Green Patient Lab proves that sustainable design can improve patient care, increase efficiency, and reduce the anxiety of medical staff, patients, and families. The 400-sq.-ft. room displays materials and technologies that are economically viable, readily available, and appropriate for use in intensive healthcare settings. Placards throughout describe the design decisions and the benefits of each. Many strategies draw on the principles of evidence-based design, reflecting research into the ways that healthcare architecture and interior design can improve medical outcomes, financial performance, and consumer satisfaction. Visitors to the exhibit have the opportunity to give feedback by filling out a survey.
The Green Patient Room takes practical, cost-effective steps to reduce resource consumption while improving patient health. Low-flow rate laminar flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets minimize water consumption. High-performance lighting, glass, and insulation systems, along with extensive use of natural lighting, cut energy costs. Non-toxic materials low in VOC emissions are used throughout to improve air quality and speed patient recovery. 
The room is organized into three zones: patient, family, and staff. Each area is meant to improve patient care by increasing comfort and minimizing disorder and stress. The patient zone, which includes the bathroom and much of the bedroom, is designed to give patients as much control over their environment as possible. Potentially intimidating medical equipment is discreetly located on one side of the bed, easily accessible to medical staff yet out of sight of patients and their families.
The family zone is designed to encourage family stays, in response to studies showing that families who visit frequently and stay longer are more involved in patient care, helping to improve patient well-being and facilitate healing. Reminiscent of a living room, this family space includes a sleeper sofa, television, desktop space, and other amenities.
The staff zone is organized to accommodate staff workflow and offer better access to equipment by reducing clutter and improving lighting, thereby helping minimize injury and medical error. A dedicated work area provides electronic charting, a hand-washing sink, and desk space.
This room also features an outdoor terrace with seating area, coffee table, and plants. A terrace may be difficult to incorporate in many healthcare settings, because of regulations, safety, buildings codes, and conventional construction practices, but it illustrates the benefits of connecting patients to the outdoors. Studies show that patients with views to nature heal more quickly. The low-wall displacement ventilation system is also uncommon in the United States, but reduces energy use and improves indoor air quality.
http://www.anshen.com/data/ideas/Greening%20Patient%20Experience%20brochure.pdf
Gersil Kay, IESNA, founder of Conservation Lighting International, Ltd. (CLI), is the pioneer American lighting designer conserving energy and materials with glass fibre optics functional architectural lighting. (To hear more about glass fibre optics lighting from Mrs. Kay, click the link under “communicate.”)
This completely different lighting technology delivers both high-level directional light for task, display and architectural features,and lower-level ambient (general) light. Even before 1993, when CLI was incorporated, Mrs. Kay has been its advocate. Used for decades abroad, its adoption has been very slow in the U.S.
CLI made the first major commercial installation of glass fibre optics in New York in the Pool Room of the famed Four Seasons Restaurant in the landmark Seagram Building on Park Avenue.
Other award-winning projects include many exhibits for the prestigious University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, the Muckerman Fountain and Roman Pavilion in Tower Grove Park, St. Louis, MO, the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, and the new Weldall Factory in Wisconsin, where the lighting protects the display animals from fading, and provides glare proof illumination for the stairs from the second floor.
Not the same as glass fibre optics for communications, this version is not interchangeable. However, the technology is not new, and has long been used as an additional lighting tool in Europe and the Near- and Far-East. The first US patent was taken out in 1882. However, because of lack of practical training in the subject, few North Americans are familiar with its economic and environmental properties, or the range of applications it offers. Benefits and more information are found in Frequently Asked Questions.
Muckerman Fountain and Roman Pavilion, Tower Grove Park, St.Louis, MO.
Why Glass Fibre Optics? Why Now?
Lighting is essential to see or do anything. Not much can be done in the dark. Good lighting enhances all design, and increases productivity, personal comfort, safety, security, attendance, sales and profit.
Applications are limited only by the designer’s imagination for commercial, institutional, industrial, historic, hazardous/confined space/electromagnetic areas, water features, religious, transportation and high-end residential venues, both indoors and out.
Wines and foods deteriorate quickly under the heat and ultraviolet rays emitted by conventional light. The glass fibre optics light sources are placed, insulated and sufficient space is allowed to dissipate the heat normally produced by light. Hardware is concealed so that patrons wonder where the lighting hardware is hidden.
Wine display at Harrod’s UK. Glass fiber optics illuminates display, but doesn’t melt ice.
Innovation at Work
Glass fibre optics can be concealed in floors, ceilings, walls and furniture, just like copper wire. Power and control wiring can be done before, during or after installation of the lighting guides (tails). This is just another lighting job.
The tails are delivered fully assembled in an octopus-like harness, which only has to be plugged into the lighting source (the size of a large shoe box). No cutting splicing or polishing is needed. Everyone who has worked with glass fibre optics says, “It is fun”. The glass is not affected by the heat of the lamp, and does not yellow, melt, harden or cease carrying light rays. It does not have to be trimmed regularly to cut out failed material.
Lighting is safe for children and the elderly.
The Future of Glass Fibre Optics Illumination
The highest quality glass is manufactured in Germany and Japan. A project could be considered “fusion”, with the material made in the Czech Republic by a German company, assembled in England, and powered by Danish projectors.
Although millions of feet of glass fibre optics are made here for communications, American factories are reluctant to build new hospital-clean facilities to make glass fibre optics for lighting. The price could be greatly reduced if the glass fibre were made in this country. Nevertheless, savings in installation, maintenance and operation make for prompt payback on initial investment, and continuing economies thereafter for the long life of the system.
With the urgent need for green, sustainable and energy efficient illumination, perhaps now Americans will start using proven glass fibre optics as an additional lighting tool to expand the designer’s palette. When the most energy efficient method best suited for the particular application is chosen, sophisticated and affordable lighting that complies with LEED1, ASHRAE/IESNA/ANSI Standard 90.12 IECC and state building codes can be designed within the increasing energy conservation restrictions.
Peter Gluck, of Peter L. Gluck and Partners, is challenging the design and construction industries. He’s speaking out about design project process and delivery difficulties. And, he’s developed a model which empowers architects and demonstrates they can design and construct innovative and aesthetically interesting buildings at lower cost.
I became aware of his model while attending a business event at the Yale Club in Manhattan. On the cover of the Club’s newsletter was a photo of Gluck and a brief description of his lecture. The synopsis included a disturbing statistic: economists estimate a loss of as much as $120 billion per year due to inefficiencies in construction process and projects. I wrote him requesting the source of the stat and info on his model.
He directed me to the book Broken Buildings, Busted Budgets written by real estate, design, and construction attorney Barry LePatner. LePatner states the outmoded manner in which the construction industry operates is costing Americans billions; saving 10 percent in the $1.2 trillion construction industry puts $120 billion back into the economy. According to LePatner, the market for construction services is broken. Gluck apparently agrees and is taking his firm’s success story on the road to encourage other architects and property owners to adopt his model. I attended another of his presentations a few weeks later at City College in
Don’t confuse Gluck’s design and construction process with design-build. Gluck pares down the design process; drawings are less complex to ensure the artisans and trades people he hires can translate them to realistic project costs; making contingencies unnecessary and minimizing change orders and delays. When possible, the design team builds a full scale mock up to ensure the project is achievable and compliments its environment, a common practice in
Gluck’s business model dictates his architects fill the roles of design, project, and construction managers and are on-site and hands-on every day. On multiple occasions, on-site designers were readily able to remedy construction difficulties with innovative solutions and instrumentation; something that otherwise would result in delayed projects and increased costs.
Overall, the model places responsibility for project success squarely on the relationship between architect and client. Gluck advocates the empowered architect take control of the process; resulting in quality buildings on time and on budget.
The Little Ajax Affordable Housing Project: A 14 unit Aspen, CO project.
Gluck & Partners acted as architect, contractor, and developer.
(source: aiany.org)
The answer to the age old question, ‘is there anything to eat?’ now depends on your choice of high level design and technology products.
While a food processor and espresso maker are staples on most kitchen counters, serious foodies and those with industrial sized kitchens will make room for these high performing gadgets and appliances.
Take International Cooking Concept’s Gastrovac, for example, available at Le-Sanctuaire. The Gastrovac works as a crock pot, vacuum pump, and heating plate in one device; reducing cooking and frying temperatures while maintaining color, texture, and nutrients. The Gastrovac creates a sponge effect when pressure pulls air from the food. After cooking, food absorbs the surrounding liquid, filling the compressed cells and infusing the food with flavor from the broth. The process creates infinite combinations of foods and flavors. The price: $3800.
(image source: popsci.com)
How does Frozen Lobster Bisque sound? Or ice cream and sorbets? The Pacojet is a processor which freezes all ingredients and its 4.2 inch blade turns at 2,000 rpm slicing food into layers less than two microns thick. Air trapped between ice crystals means food volume is 20% greater. The effect is a sorbet like texture. About that Lobster Bisque, did I mention you can use the whole lobster, shell and all! The Pacojet sells for $3450.
(image source: popscicom)
Or, perhaps you prefer the taste of smoky hardwood. The PolyScience Smoking Gun adds culinary interest to your meats and vegetables. Hardwood dust is distributed in the device pipe. Light it up and presto – instant smoke flavor added to your fish, beef, or potatoes and carrots. Costs about $50.
(image source: popsci.com)
And just one more; although there are many. MyFountain XL is a robo-bartender! Available through Digital Beverages, MyFountain XL is touted as the first fully automated drink slinger. The countertop dispenser is connected to a small refrigerator, holding up to 12 types of alcohol and mixers. A water-line and carbon-dioxide cartridege are also attached. An Internet-linked Windows XP computer sits above the fridge, enabling users to enter drink recipes on a touchscreen or personalized Web page, as well as share favorite recipes with a community of friends.
Tap the screen to initiate the process; drink ingredients move up a tube and through a nozzle, which then mixes and pours the cocktail. For clean up, MyFountain XL will shoot hot water through the nozzle. The services of this bartender are available for $2575.
(image source: popsci.com)
When next asked, ‘what’s to eat?’ Respond, ’which flavor and texture do you prefer?’
Not everything growing under your bed has the potential to make positive planet change.
But, for Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates and co-founders of Ecovative Design, the bio-matter growing under their beds became known as Greensulate, and won the 2007 Oxford
Patented Greensulate is a sustainable, environmental friendly insulator. This organic, fire-retardant board is made of water, flour, oyster mushroom spores, and perlite - a mineral found in potting soil.
Greensulate, has cross-industry application. The material can be tailored for maximum performance from home insulation and packaging, to boat hull insulator and surfboard core. Recent tests at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have shown it to be competitive with most insulation.
Unlike polystyrene insulators, Greensulate doesn’t overstay its welcome. It breaks down rapidly, enriching the soil around it, and aids the breakdown of other nearby waste.
According to the innovators; “Greensulate isn’t forever, it’s for just as long as you need it.”
If you are looking to be truely sustainable in your building project, visit the Material ConneXion library on New York’s West 25th Street. You’ll find yourself surrounded wall to wall with cradle-to-cradle materials. The experienced research team brings materials from all over the world to the disciplines of product, packaging, architectural, interior, and apparel design.
Typically, manufacturers produce “cradle-to-grave” products – those that end up in landfills or severely diminished after the recycling process. But chemist Michael Braungart and architect William McDonough, inventors of the cradle-to-cradle concept, say it’s possible—and necessary—to engineer products for reuse to withstand many cycles of recycling without losing their value and move continually from cradle to cradle.
http://www.materialconnexion.com/
SHoP Architects teamed up with 14 students from Parsons The New School for Design to design and construct two structures over the course of seven months in a relief effort for Katrina victims who lost their home and a sense of place. One building serves as a place for residents to come for advice on how to collect funds from the federal and local governments, the other, a 2,000 square foot laundromat. A large front porch and sprawling lawn were essential vernacular elements of the design. The open southern entrance of the community building readily welcomes visitors in. The two structures compliment each other due to the use of local cedar wood.
