Acoustics in Healthcare Design

Posted by on Dec 5, 2019 in Behind the Design
Acoustics in Healthcare Design

Hospitals are noisy and bustling with activity. One of the most frequent complaints that patients have while in the hospital are noise levels, according to a survey by HCAHPS. Unwanted noise can increase patient stress levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and have a deleterious impact on their health.   A study from AECOM showed that when patients are exposed to unwanted noise, […]

Choosing the Right Materials for Healthcare Facilities

Posted by on Nov 16, 2019 in Behind the Design
Choosing the Right Materials for Healthcare Facilities

One of the most challenging aspects of healthcare design is choosing the right materials for medical facilities. There are a multitude of factors to consider. Should the interior designers select a material that is easily cleaned, or should the designer instead choose a material that is more aesthetically pleasing? This article presents several factors healthcare interior […]

Why Design Students Should Consider Healthcare Design

Posted by on Nov 8, 2019 in About Marie Wikoff, Behind the Design
Why Design Students Should Consider Healthcare Design

The design industry has been experiencing a boom in recent decades, and in some cases, the industry has outperformed the rest of the economy. As the industry has grown and matured, more and more specialties have arisen. Young designers either in college or recent graduates have more options than ever to choose from when selecting […]

The Rewarding World of Healthcare Design

Posted by on Nov 1, 2019 in About Marie Wikoff, Behind the Design
The Rewarding World of Healthcare Design

I often get asked why I specialize in healthcare design. The truth is that I love it! It’s a niche of interior design that has a definite and positive outcome on the health and outlook of others. Healthcare design matters. Sure, it’s a complex market to be in and there are a lot of stakeholders […]

Designing Modern Operating Rooms for Stress Relief, Cost Effectiveness and Green Energy

Posted by on Oct 11, 2019 in Behind the Design
Designing Modern Operating Rooms for Stress Relief, Cost Effectiveness and Green Energy

Operating Rooms are one of the most important aspects of a hospital. They are places where lives are saved, complicated surgeries are done, and where medical staff spend hours on their feet. ORs are profit centers for hospitals, but also use a great deal of resources. All of this means healthcare designers need to pay […]

It’s Busy in Here and I Need to Chart. Where Do I Go?

It’s Busy in Here and I Need to Chart. Where Do I Go?

Needing a place to chart or a private place to have a difficult conversation with a patient’s family is harder than you would think in many hospitals. A frequent complaint of medical staff is that medical facilities are often crowded and there’s competition for open spaces, offices and conference rooms. Part of the reason for […]

Using Research to Inform Design

Posted by on Aug 9, 2019 in Behind the Design, Featured Projects
Using Research to Inform Design

Linking research and design is the core of Evidence-Based Design or EBD. In fact, what differentiates EBD from a typical design approach is its emphasis on using research to inform and support design decisions and evaluate design strategies and innovations. Using research helps designers glean valuable insights that inform design decisions. In EBD, research generally […]