Description

In a wide-ranging conversation, with [Speaker Name] of Perkins+Will,  DESIGN:ED discusses the adaptive reuse of malls and office spaces in response to declining retail and changing workplace habits, focusing particularly on transforming such spaces into healthcare facilities. They highlight the Perkins+Will-designed Saunders Center in Rochester, a former Sears converted into a major orthopedic outpatient facility, emphasizing design strategies such as improving patient experience, maximizing daylight, and fostering community integration. The discussion also explores broader themes in healthcare design, including sustainability, adaptability for future needs, and the evolution of hospital typologies toward more flexible, community-centered environments.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the design and strategic considerations involved in adaptively reusing retail and office spaces for healthcare facilities.
• Explore how architectural design can enhance patient experience through improved accessibility, daylighting, and community integration.
• Analyze the challenges and opportunities of creating flexible, sustainable healthcare environments that can adapt to future needs.
• Evaluate the evolving role of mixed-use developments and decentralized healthcare delivery in shaping urban and suburban communities.

Credits: 1.0 AIA LU/Elective

Speakers:  Rob Goodwin and Scott Hansche