By 2030, a fifth of the U.S. population will be 65 or older, according to the Census Bureau. This cohort and succeeding generations are expected to live longer than their predecessors, and remain much more active into their later years.
TOP 90 HEALTHCARE ARCHITECTURE FIRMS
Rank, Firm, 2015 Revenue
1. HDR $189,259,600
2. Stantec $169,505,425
3. Perkins+Will $147,640,000
4. HKS $134,427,510
5. CannonDesign $130,000,000
6. SmithGroupJJR $80,272,000
7. NBBJ $80,000,000
8. CallisonRTKL $69,955,000
9. HGA $67,221,000
10. HOK $59,887,000
TOP 100 HEALTHCARE CONSTRUCTION FIRMS
Rank, Firm, 2015 Revenue
1. Turner Construction Co. $2,013,969,043
2. McCarthy Holdings $974,575,751
3. Skanska USA $909,329,296
4. Brasfield & Gorrie $889,780,920
5. JE Dunn Construction $775,645,914
6. DPR Construction $752,608,000
7. Robins & Morton $629,700,000
8. PCL Construction Enterprises $612,506,352
9. Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., The $536,246,481
10. Gilbane Building Co. $503,914,000
TOP 80 HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING FIRMS
Rank, Firm, 2015 Revenue
1. AECOM $90,000,000
2. Jacobs $78,010,000
3. WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff $55,480,000
4. BR+A Consulting Engineers $46,000,000
5. KJWW / TTG $39,820,000
6. Smith Seckman Reid $38,668,017
7. Affiliated Engineers $36,208,000
8. BSA LifeStructures $31,488,415
9. Mazzetti $25,966,258
10. TLC Engineering for Architecture $21,012,432
Michael Steiner, AIA, LEED AP, an Associate with Corgan, recently collaborated with the firm’s Francie Abell, Interior Designer, and Landon Moore, Architect, on an age-simulation research project. The goal: to better understand the stresses and anxieties that the 65+ and the mobility-impaired population face when navigating spaces like medical facilities, workplaces, schools, and airports.
“The goal is to elevate awareness of this issue and make sure that we’re designing with these folks in mind,” says Steiner.
At the heart of the Corgan study is the GERontologic Test suit (GERT), an age-simulation ensemble that incorporates weights, gloves, glasses, wraps, and headphones that tack 40 years of wear and tear on the user.
Using the GERT suit, Corgan designers experienced first-hand the difficulties that the elderly and mobility impaired confront every day. They walked through four Corgan-designed buildings—Dallas Love Field Airport; Daugherty Elementary, Garland, Texas; Moncrief Cancer Institute, Fort Worth; and Corgan’s headquarters in Dallas. They completed a series of tasks at each location, once wearing the GERT suit and once without.
Simple exercises—grabbing a can of soda from a refrigerator, pulling a roller suitcase through an airport terminal, carrying books down a school hallway, climbing a staircase, working on a desktop computer, taking notes, locating a specific binder on a bookshelf—were excruciatingly difficult for many of the users.
It took participants 52–73% longer to complete the tasks with the GERT suit on than without it.
LESSONS LEARNED
Based on their observations (see below), Corgan’s team offers the following takeaways:
• Consider wayfinding strategies with multiple elements and large signs. Participants tended to look down and reacted more slowly, which led them to miss signage. Wayfinding strategies that incorporate both floor and wall elements could help improve communication.
• Investigate signage locations with areas of bright light and intense shadow. Consider films or frits to help reduce the amount of glare and strong shadows. Minimize the use of white finishes in brightly lit spaces, which can cause glare.
• Include “fatigue mitigation” stations. Break up long distances with areas where occupants can rest and confirm the correct direction.
• Avoid changes in level along primary pathways. Make sure elevator/escalator cores are readily visible and accessible.
Design with multiple senses in mind. Some users use sight, others depend on touch, sound, or smell.
• Provide seating of different levels (e.g., standard seats, high seats, and something to lean on).
• White text on green was by far the most preferred signage method. White text on blue was also very effective. Backlit signage is highly recommended.
• Avoid using low, protruding objects, such as low chairs and tables.
For more: http://tinyurl.com/CorganAge.
RETURN TO THE GIANTS 300 LANDING PAGE
Related Stories
| Jan 3, 2012
VDK Architects merges with Harley Ellis Devereaux
Harley Ellis Devereaux will relocate the employees in its current Berkeley, Calif., office to the new Oakland office location effective January 3, 2012.
| Jan 3, 2012
New Chicago hospital prepared for pandemic, CBR terror threat
At a cost of $654 million, the 14-story, 830,000-sf medical center, designed by a Perkins+Will team led by design principal Ralph Johnson, FAIA, LEED AP, is distinguished in its ability to handle disasters.
| Jan 3, 2012
BIM: not just for new buildings
Ohio State University Medical Center is converting 55 Medical Center buildings from AutoCAD to BIM to improve quality and speed of decision making related to facility use, renovations, maintenance, and more.
| Dec 12, 2011
Skanska to expand and renovate hospital in Georgia for $103 Million
The expansion includes a four-story, 17,500 square meters clinical services building and a five-story, 15,700 square meters, medical office building. Skanska will also renovate the main hospital.
| Dec 1, 2011
Nauset Construction breaks ground on Massachusetts health care center
The $20 million project is scheduled to be completed by December 2012.
| Nov 29, 2011
Report finds credit crunch accounts for 20% of nation’s stalled projects
Persistent financing crunch continues to plague design and construction sector.
| Nov 28, 2011
Nauset Construction completes addition for Franciscan Hospital for Children
The $6.5 million fast-track, urban design-build projectwas completed in just over 16 months in a highly sensitive, occupied and operational medical environment.
| Nov 11, 2011
AIA: Engineered Brick + Masonry for Commercial Buildings
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
| Nov 11, 2011
How Your Firm Can Win Federal + Military Projects
The civilian and military branches of the federal government are looking for innovative, smart-thinking AEC firms to design and construct their capital projects. Our sources give you the inside story.
