What can you come up with to transform a parking lot into a community gathering place, in the face of financial and logistical constraints? That was the challenge facing design teams in the Flat Lot competition in Flint, Michigan. “Knot Lot,” a Shepley Bulfinch team submission, was chosen as one of five finalists from among 221 entries in the competition, which was sponsored by the Flint (Michigan) Public Art Project and the Flint chapter of the AIA.  Knot Lot and other top entries will be part of an exhibition opening in Flint on April 14.

Organizers asked designers ...[more]

While ADA standards for accessible design strive to provide persons with disabilities the same ease of use and access in a building as a person without disability, they do not take into account the needs of the visually impaired. Unlike patients who are blind, those with low vision have limited sight, and must deal with difficulties that include lack of depth perception, clarity, and the ability to distinguish foreground and background.

To accommodate this patient population, in addition to meeting ADA accessibility requirements related to mobility, the toilet rooms at the Vision Rehabilitation Center (VRC) at Mass Eye and Ear had to address these challenges.

It was clear from the ...[more]

We live in a time of constraint and experimentation, when both the state and the nation are seeking ways to enhance our economic well-being. No single institution is more on the front lines of these changes than the community college and nowhere is that more apparent than when examining the physical fabric of the school.

Over the past year I’ve worked with a Massachusetts community college, developing a campus master plan to guide the future physical development of the campus. When we raised the idea of arranging future buildings to create a traditional ...[more]

A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (“Scientific Discovery, Inspired by a Walk to the Restroom”) made the argument that locating key support facilities has a role in fostering collaborative research environments.

As a design researcher, whenever I read a piece like this that cites research without providing citations or references, I become concerned about the quality of the evidence.

I decided to do a little digging. Although I was unable to find a research study documenting a 50-foot rule (“collaboration drops to 10% when workers are more than 50 feet ...[more]

Shepley Bulfinch is pleased to welcome healthcare planning and design leader Sharon Woodworth, AIA, as a principal in the firm’s San Francisco office.

In announcing the appointment, Shepley Bulfinch president Carole Wedge said, “Sharon’s remarkable portfolio and her passion for client partnership is a perfect match for Shepley, as we elevate our work and grow our national healthcare practice.”

Sharon has led healthcare planning and design projects throughout the Western US and in Western Canada. Her award-winning work has included major clinical projects for the Santa Clara County Health System; Stanford Hospital; the University ...[more]

“What do you do?”

When asked to describe what you do during the day, it’s natural to answer in the context of your current work environment. Its spaces, adjacencies, and physical parameters determine how you interact with others, how efficiently you function, and how effectively you do your job. But it doesn’t answer the question.

When it comes to the lean healthcare design, the question isn’t “how do you function in your current space?” It’s “what are you trying to accomplish?” Applying lean principles when designing a space that will optimize efficient and effective healthcare delivery means putting the outcome first.

Lean design isn’t just a matter of common sense. It’s the cornerstone ...[more]

Detroit celebrated its new home for pediatric specialty care today with blowing bubbles, a youth chorus, and a marching band at the Grand Opening of Children’s Hospital of Michigan Specialty Center on the campus of the Detroit Medical Center (DMC).

The $43 million specialty center represents the first completed structure following Vanguard Health Systems’ acquisition of DMC and marks the first major expansion for the campus in nearly 30 years.

The ceremony included remarks from DMC CEO Michael Duggan; Vanguard Chairman and CEO Charles Martin; and DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan ...[more]