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The past week has been filled with both personal and professional significance. Last week AIA Michigan held the 55th annual Health Facilities Seminar in Grand Rapids. Less than an hour prior to the beginning of that event, Thursday morning, I received a text message letting me know that one of my close friends passed away. It was somewhat expected; however, I don’t know if you’re ever fully prepared for when someone you know passes away. He died in the hospital, where he had been receiving treatment over the course of the past ten days. As I reflected on my friend at breakfast that morning, I realized that the Health Facilities Seminar was going to take on a different perspective for me this year, and I felt it important to share that with the group in my opening remarks.
You see, we design places for people, and because of that, what we do is a very personal thing. In healthcare, we design places for people who are at their most vulnerable. Some of you have been there, some of you have not, but in these spaces, we almost always give up all dignity and control of our life as others work to help us through a myriad of challenges we face. My challenge to those attending last week was to look at the time together as an opportunity to not only refine our craft, but to do better for those who are at their most vulnerable. We have two clients – those who charge us with the opportunity to create a nd implement design, and those for whom the space is designed for. Read more.
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