Five steps for capturing the spirit of universities through interior design

By Diana Ricks 

Given our focus on designing interior spaces for higher education, healthcare, and the workplace, the Four Point Design team has worked on many campuses. For each facility type, it’s critical to capture the unique culture and spirit of the organization or institution, both in the look and feel of the space and how it functions.

In higher education spaces, the projects we design not only help the universities meet their goals—they can also promote a sense of pride and loyalty among students and alumni. With that in mind, the following are five ways we capture the spirit of universities through interior design.

Clarifying the goals

The design process starts with the architect and interior designer collaborating with the university to develop a clear understanding of the goals for the project and the identity of the program. The unique objectives and the desired character of the project are then used to drive decisions throughout the design process.

Understanding the standards

In some universities, the institution has branding requirements that include the exact colors to be used, alongside a neutral palette that allows the school colors to shine. Other universities’ guidelines provide more leeway, allowing for other coordinating shades that tell a story unique to the space. In addition, universities’ preferences can range from a modern aesthetic to a design that reflects their rich histories through finishes, furniture, and detailing. There’s no right or wrong approach—what’s important is to understand the framework we’re working within, from the earliest stages of the project.

Establishing a vision

In addition to understanding the goals and any applicable criteria, the beginning of the project also includes establishing the vision for the space. In collaboration with architectural partners, Four Point Design can facilitate a visioning session to share images for the client to consider. Depending on the client, these images can range from examples of other interior spaces to imagery that evokes certain emotions. These visioning sessions are used as both conversation starters and reference points for developing the design.

Considering the details

Design details and custom graphics can help reinforce the university’s overall brand and the stories within. Some examples:

Wabash College basketball locker room. Image courtesy of Wabash College.

• Interior athletic spaces are often highly branded, to generate excitement around school spirit. For example, we recently wrapped up a basketball locker room for Wabash College featuring generous amounts of red and the Wabash W highlighted throughout the space, including in a custom overhead feature.

• For a new board of trustees’ suite, Four Point Design recently took a more understated approach, subtly incorporating school colors and creating a custom area rug with a subtle, abstracted application of the university’s logo.

• For a nursing school celebrating their history and mission while driving future enrollment growth, Four Point Design’s overall approach aligns with those goals. It features custom graphics that tell the story of the program while positioning it for the future.

Prioritizing partnerships

Interior spaces need to be both fitting and functional. We collaborate with a variety of project partners, client representatives, and user groups to create environments that reinforce the brand and intended outcomes of each higher education client. We appreciate our relationships with strong architectural partners who engage us on these meaningful projects.

Q&A with an Owner: Adriann Rhoades, Director of Planning, Design and Construction at Wabash College

Four Point Design is fortunate to be working on interior design projects with Wabash College and Adriann Rhoades. Adriann has served as the college’s Director of Planning, Design and Construction for nearly five years. For this month’s blog, Adriann reflected on her experiences in the industry and shared insightful takeaways.

Let’s start by talking about the work Wabash College is doing with Four Point Design.

Four Point Design is working on the rehabilitation and conversion of a 1912 home that once belonged to a Wabash professor. It had sat empty for a few years, and the college had the opportunity to purchase it and turn it into an academic building. For this project, the interior designer—Four Point Design—was the lead design firm, and Halstead Architects and Kort Builders worked on the project, as well.

My experience with Four Point Design started when I was fresh out of college. I was working in preconstruction for Turner on the IU Health Saxony Hospital, and Jamie Raymond was one of the first people I met. I didn’t know a lot at the time and was eager to learn. Jamie was kind, accommodating, and explained everything well. I noticed she was a problem solver—and she did it all with a smile on her face. When I joined Wabash, we started working with Four Point Design on small interiors projects at fraternities, as well as office spaces at the Wabash Center. I appreciated Four Point Design’s professionalism and reliability, and their documentation and renderings helped our people understand what they were getting. The Four Point Design team works in healthcare as well as higher ed, and I’ve found that firms that operate in healthcare tend to have a high level professionalism and responsiveness.

When the current project came along, I knew Four Point Design would be a good fit. It’s a unique and interesting project that took the house down to studs and introduced student workspaces, conference rooms, a library, and offices. The team worked through many complexities to bring new life to the structure.

Four Point Design is also helping Wabash with a campus-wide furniture assessment. They went into every space and documented the quantity and quality of our furniture, giving us a tool for forecasting its replenishment. The process also facilitated conversations relative to how faculty and staff use their spaces and how we can help them be successful.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk about you. How did you end up in the construction industry?

I always laugh about this, because when I was younger, construction wasn't something I thought about. Originally, healthcare spoke to me, so I enrolled for the hardest science and math classes at Indiana University. As the first person from my family to go to college, I started to get intimidated by the idea of taking on a lot of debt. My junior year, I transferred to Ball State University, with the architecture program in mind because I still really needed to choose a major. After the first semester of intro courses I wasn’t sure that design was my calling and I told an academic advisor (in the middle of my junior year) that I wanted a major that was a job and that my only requirement was that the IU classes would transfer. He said, “How about construction management? It’s a brand new program.” I ended up loving it and graduating first in my class, and a big reason for that is the people who ran the construction management program. It’s a similar dynamic today, with consultants and vendors—it’s all about the people.

What else do you enjoy about working in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry?

What excites me most about the industry is its breadth and depth and the ability to continue to learn. After I was assigned to my first job, I quickly realized every industry depends upon the AEC industry to create meaningful spaces that contribute to each organization’s mission and purpose.  

It also takes many people to make everything come to life. Construction isn’t about one person. Everyone needs to be able to trust each other, show up, and do their job well. If they don’t, the people around them can’t succeed. I love how teams become these high performing machines that get the details right while creating lasting change.

That’s also what drove me to the owners’ side—it takes good owners who understand the process. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you get a smart owner, a smart contractor, and a smart design team together. The possibilities are endless.

What is a typical day like for you?

There really is no typical day. My position didn’t exist before I joined Wabash, so I’ve been given an opportunity to step in and create whatever we need to bring our projects to life. We’re a small institution with lean resources, but we still need to deliver. As a department of one, I depend heavily upon our partners, and we have a great facilities team and administration. I do everything from high level master planning to resource allocation for our capital expenditures, and from working with our board of trustees to managing and coordinating projects details. That makes the job interesting.

What advice do you have for firms who do work or are interested in doing work with Wabash?

Be great and know what you're good at. There are some firms who would like to claim that they can do everything and do it great. We know that’s just not the truth. I appreciate people who say, “These are the things we do, and we do them well.” I also like to know why they do what they do.

In addition, I appreciate firms who get to know the needs of Wabash College and go above and beyond the task at hand. As a small institution, we sometimes have unique requests. The partners who have been successful with us understand that, and they deliver on things that might be atypical. Wabash depends heavily upon our relationships, our people, and our history, so it’s important to have trusted partners who help us carry out that mission.

Four Point Design is among those partners—they’re adept at stepping in, quickly orienting themselves, and gaining a deep understanding of their clients’ needs. That says something about the quality of their people and the work they do.

What else inspires you in your work?

Family is everything to me and has taught me more about patience, leadership, and teamwork than anything else. Both of my sisters are in the AEC industry, as well, so we’re able to understand and support each other on multiple levels. I'm the oldest of five kids and 16 years older than my youngest sibling. My sisters and brothers call me “the momster”—half mom, half sister to everyone—and it's kind of true. Both of my parents worked, so I helped to take care of my younger siblings.

Then, my senior year in college, I became a mom. I was preparing to interview for my first job, and I heard some well-intended advice from a friend: “Whatever you do, don't tell them you have a kid.” I show up to interview and the first question was something like, “What makes you more responsible than the next person?” I said, “Well, I have a kid.” It was one of those moments when you can follow your intuition or accept other people's limitations. And it serves as a reminder to be honest when sharing your story, and you’ll end up in the right place. From a place of gratitude and humility, you don’t want to be where people don't value who you really are.

Creating a flexible environment at IU Health

Through the Fishers Community Impact Project (FCIP), IU Health is creating a new model of care for the Fishers, Ind. community. With its new model, IU Health is also exploring new approaches to design and construction.

Part of the FCIP includes relocating or expanding outpatient spaces to provide patients with healthcare closer to home. For two of those spaces—suites 3300 and 2400—IU Health was interested in exploring construction approaches that involved modular and prefabricated solutions.

 New programs, new construction solutions

A flexible approach to construction was key, given the ever-changing environment of healthcare, evolutions in practices and programs, and the fact that, when the FCIP is complete, women’s health services in suite 2400 are slated to move to the FCIP tower.

“At IU Health, especially in the medical office building and practice side, we have a lot of opportunities to test out new construction systems,” said Ryan Herdegen, project director at Indiana University Health. In that spirit, IU Health started exploring options for prefabricated interior construction solutions and ended up selecting Falkbuilt. “Systems like Falkbuilt are appealing because they allow us to adjust the space for changing needs,” Ryan added.

Four Point Design provided interior design services on the project in collaboration with MSKTD Architects, which provided architectural services. According to Jamie Raymond, partner at Four Point Design, the two suites also needed to be open for business in a short timeline. 

“Saxony/Fishers is a growing community, with new physicians coming on board to serve their patients,” Jamie said. “The Falkbuilt delivery method helped expedite design and construction, and the level of detail regarding the schedule made our contractor partners, Messer Construction and Harmon Construction, comfortable with its ability to deliver.”

James Cruz, project manager at Indiana University Health, led the medical office building suite projects.

“We went through request for qualifications / request for proposals (RFQ/RFP) process for construction, and a big decision-making factor was how the system would impact safety on the site,” James said. “Going the prefabricated route reduced the clutter we would typically see on a job site. In addition, the Falkbuilt system allowed us to have a single source for material and installation, with a fully manufactured system that helped with quality management.”

Design considerations

As IU Health engaged with their user groups, a common—and important—question arose. Would a prefabricated construction solution meet IU Health’s standards and expectations for finishes, both functionally and aesthetically?

“Four Point Design was crucial to coordinating with our teams to help us understand our options,” James said. “While these systems can’t use every single type of paint and color combination, Four Point Design was crucial in helping us understand our options if we were to go down this path, and we discovered it could meet our needs. Once we went into design, Four Point Design did a fantastic job with the layout and making sure the panels lined up nicely overhead and with doorways. The end product doesn’t look like a furniture solution—it truly looks like an architectural solution, and the end users were in awe of how great the system ended up looking.”

As with many aspects of design and construction, collaboration and early engagement are key to success.

“Building owners will benefit most from a system like Falkbuilt when it’s included early on in the design process, to allow for input and minimize duplicated efforts,” Jamie said. “Through virtual meetings, the design team and the Falkbuilt team presented IU Health with options that included 3D imagery and walk throughs so users could feel confident and comfortable with their decisions”

Proof of concept through a change in plans

Well into construction of Suite 3300, the flexibility of the Falkbuilt system was put to the test. Suite 3300 was originally planned to include seven exam rooms, but—midway through construction—IU Health wondered if they could fit in an eighth room.

“The design team walked us through the process and found a way to layout the space to accommodate the eighth room,” James said.

The change in plans required coordination with a variety of user groups, from infection prevention to clinical staff.

“The design team’s ability to coordinate with us and with Falkbuilt to make the change in the middle of construction was fantastic, and it allowed us to add another provider to the clinic,” James said.

Successful partnerships

According to Ryan, Four Point Design’s history with IU Health helped enrich the project process.

“Four Point Design has been great to work with,” Ryan said. “Since Jamie was part of the Saxony Hospital project, she was able to bring knowledge and history of the existing hospital to the MOB and incorporate spaces that blend seamlessly with the overall campus.”

“I don't think we would have had as good of feedback from our end users if the whole system didn't feel as good or better than traditional construction, and we achieved that,” James added. “And that's in large part due to Four Point Design.” 

Four Point Design has additional experience with Falkbuilt, as well, having provided consulting and interior design recommendations for The HIVE, Falkbuilt's immersive experience space. 

“Designers are visual people, and our clients—many of whom aren’t used to visualizing space daily—really benefit from a space where they can see real installations, kick the tires a bit, and understand not only the layout but also the quality of the materials and construction that Falkbuilt offers,” Jamie said. “The term ‘prefab’ can have a negative connotation due to systems used many years ago. That is not what Falkbuilt is, and seeing is believing.”

Architects and interior designers: Top 5 keys to successful partnerships

A building design and construction project takes a variety of disciplines to turn vision into reality. And it takes a spirit of partnership among those disciplines to make the project a success.  

Prior to leading Four Point Design, our three partners—Jamie Raymond, Diana Ricks, and Victoria Numbers—all gained experience working at firms with both architectural and interior design services in-house. Today, 70% of our projects are completed as a consultant to an architectural partner. More than half of the 15 architectural firms we’re currently working with have in-house interior designers, but for a variety of reasons, engage Four Point Design—whether to provide a specific type of expertise, to help diversify their project teams, or to collaborate with their interiors teams.   

This experience adds up to a unique insight into the relationship between architecture and interiors and keys to a successful collaboration. 

1.    Clearly defined expectations of scope and deliverables among architecture and interiors teams. Between architecture, interior architecture, and interior design, there can be some overlap where one discipline ends and another begins. That’s why it’s important to create a detailed scope and outline of deliverables expected by each firm, rather than making assumptions that can result in gaps or in duplicated efforts.  

2.    Early and ongoing coordination among specialty consultants. Many projects will include specialty consultants, such as kitchen designers, acoustical designers, and lab planners. Including the specialists in coordination between the architect and interior designer helps the team create a seamless experience, both for the overall project process and in the resulting space. 

3.    Timely and proactive communication. The mantra, “communication, communication, communication,” is repeated for good reason: most issues arise out of a lack of communication. In addition to simply committing to better communication, work to understand how each firm communicates and determine the frequency and format of information sharing. 

4.    A comprehensive and well followed BIM execution plan. Building Information Modeling provides countless benefits to project teams. It enhances communication (see above!), improves coordination, and wards off potential issues by modeling the functional and physical characteristics of a facility. By developing and following a BIM execution plan—including live sharing of updates to the model—teams can fully tap into the power of BIM for the benefit of the project owner.  

5.    Mutual respect. Each discipline provides expertise and experience that add value for the owner and enrich the project. By having empathy and respect for one another—as well as all the stakeholders involved in the project—it results in a positive experience and a strong partnership, like the one we enjoy with John C. Dickinson, AIA, REFP, founder of Dickinson + Partners. 

“At Dickinson + Partners, we have found Four Point Design to be a great partner,” John said. “Their enthusiasm and engagement in learning about the entire new field of deaf space and blind space design is remarkable. The Four Point Design team has shown amazing interest and respect for the needs of this population. They care deeply and go out of their way to be responsive and respectful of our expertise, as well. Together, we have forged a great partnership.”  

The Four Point Design team is thankful for our relationships with strong architectural partners that embody the above traits, and more. What would you add to this list? 

Four Questions with Sarah Davis

At Four Point Design, we value the opportunity help students gain experience and exposure to interior design. This summer, one of our interns was Sarah Davis, who is a student at Indiana State University. As part of her coursework requirements in the interior architecture and design program, Sarah kept a regular journal to answer questions from her professor, capture what she learned, and reflect on progress achieving her goals. As part of our “Four Questions” series, we’re sharing some of the questions and responses from her journal.

What were your goals for your internship? My goals for this internship were to develop design software proficiency, enhance communication skills, network and build professional relationships, understand the business side of interior design, and gain introductory understanding of healthcare design. I was able to meet these goals—and continue to work on them—throughout my internship with the help of the Four Point Design Team. They encouraged me to learn new things and continue to grow as a design student and future designer. Many of these things I would not be able to learn in school, so it was a great opportunity to be able to get this experience firsthand. I will miss working with this team. They are fantastic and I cannot thank them enough for having me and helping me this summer.

What did you find most helpful about working with Four Point Design? Something that I find most helpful within the organization is the size of the team. It is nice to be able to walk across the room and ask my coworker for direction and guidance.

What accomplishments are you most proud of from your internship? I have learned so much. I have been able to better my skills within Revit and the office environment.

Another thing that I am proud of was being able to complete a digital wall graphic for a new pediatric emergency department waiting area. It is cool to think that my work could be displayed somewhere for others to enjoy.

Describe a working relationship you formed at Four Point Design and how the relationship helped you learn. One relationship has been with my coworker, Alex. She is super kind and cares about helping me learn. Alex is good with Revit, so she has helped me with that. She treats me like I am a part of the team, and if I need to ask a question, she’s there to answer it if she can. She has also helped me to learn more about materials and how the process of design works.

We wish Sarah all the best as she enters her senior year!

Four Questions with Emma Walsh

Emma Walsh, RID, is an interior designer for Four Point Design. Read on to learn more about her background—and some fun facts, too!

What made you go into interior design? I wanted a career where I could be creative while having the opportunity to make a positive impact on people. I also love that interior design involves a mixture of creativity and technical skills/knowledge. 

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Four Point Design team? My favorite thing about being part of the Four Point Design team is how collaborative we are. Each person’s knowledge and experience is valued, and we’re constantly learning from each other. 

Please share a memorable moment you’ve had at Four Point Design. There have been lots of memorable moments, but one that sticks out is the first time I visited a large project site, soon after I started at Four Point Design. It was amazing to see—for the first time—how the drawings translated into a real building.

What’s your favorite space or place to visit in Indiana? It’s hard to pick just one favorite, but I’ll say Cafe Pizzaria in Bloomington. Growing up, my family went to Cafe Pizzaria for dinner every Sunday, so I have lots of fun memories there. Each booth has a photo of a different country, and we always sat in “Greece.”

Building Trust in Healthcare: Part 2

Taking care of the caregivers

At Four Point Design, part of being “on point” with our clients means continually growing, learning, and enriching our understanding through exploration, conversations, and continued education. In this series, we explore a topic that has been top-of-mind for us lately: building trust in healthcare. In part 1 of this series, Victoria Numbers shared thoughts on spatial justice, a concept Liz Ogbu shared at the most recent Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo.

For the Four Point Design team, the concept of building trust is ever-present in our minds. We appreciate that our clients have trusted us to design their spaces and we want to continually earn that trust by living our values of integrity, responsiveness, expertise and care.

Trust is also essential in the delivery of healthcare. When people trust health and wellness organizations, they’re more likely to seek care services, enhancing health wellbeing. And there’s a specific group whose contributions are critical to building trust and shaping the patient experience—the caregivers.

 Since its founding in 2015, Four Point Design has specialized in healthcare interiors. We each have unique perspectives we bring to our work—insights gained not just from past projects, but from experiences as users of the healthcare system interacting with caregivers.

For Jamie Raymond, one of her formative experiences happened when she was just 19 years old. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer, requiring a 12-hour brain surgery.

“It was traumatizing, so there’s a lot I don't remember,” Jamie said. “I do remember waiting in the lounge, but can’t really recall the color of the walls, the lighting levels, or the artwork. What I do remember was the care she received and the communication from the caregivers. Today, as a designer, I see the built environment as a backdrop—a supporting element that gives caregivers the tools to do their best work and allows patients and their loved ones to focus on healing.”

Victoria Numbers also has firsthand knowledge of the healthcare experience. Her mother was an intensive care nurse for 30 years. And when Victoria had her first son, Victoria spent two weeks in the hospital, and then her new baby was in the neonatal intensive care unit for a month. Victoria recalls breaking down and not wanting to leave the NICU late one evening.

“One of the nurses gently came over and said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll move over to this charting station right here at his window and I’ll look after him all night; I’ll hold him,’” Victoria said. “She just put me at ease, and I gained a whole new appreciation for what caregivers do. Caregivers are with us when we’re at our most vulnerable. They not only care for your body or your family members; they also care for the whole person and their emotional wellbeing.”

Today, Victoria says she looks for any opportunity to make nurses’ jobs easier or improve their experience. For example, Four Point Design is working on a staff suite with spaces and amenities that give caregivers a place to refresh and recharge.

Jamie agreed, adding, “The level of commitment and passion it takes to be a healthcare worker inspires me to do my best work for them.”

Thank you to all the caregivers who have touched our lives, whether through our design work or our personal experiences. We appreciate your invaluable contributions.

Light-filled staff spaces provide a place to find respite and recharge.

Honoring Women’s History

Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields. In that spirit, Four Point Design—a women-owned interior design firm—is featuring some of the Four Point Design team and the women who inspire them.

“Rosalind Franklin was a chemist and who used x-ray imaging to discover the structure of DNA. Her contribution to science is undervalued in many ways, but it remains one of the greatest achievements in biology. Her impact has shaped and advanced medical science and practice in limitless ways.”

-        Alex Fleck

“Hedy Lamarr is inspiring to me because she led successful dual careers as an acclaimed actress and as an engineer. I was impressed to learn that she invented technology that laid the foundation for systems that billions of people worldwide use today, including WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth communication systems. Her pioneering contributions to our society should be celebrated!”

-        Victoria Numbers, RID, MSIA

“Tori Dunlap is founder of ‘Her First $100K’. Her goal is to inspire women to take charge of their financial stability through savings, investing, and debt pay-off. One of the areas she promotes is getting a high-yield savings and checking account, which has been great for getting additional savings.”

-        Emily Pittenger, Assoc. IIDA, WELL AP 

“Quaker Catherine Coffin and her husband, Levi, helped thousands of fugitive slaves to safety in Indiana and Ohio through the Underground Railroad. Growing up in a tiny town in eastern Indiana called Fountain City, we always heard stories about Levi Coffin, who was a leader in the Underground Railroad. His home still stands as a historical site in Fountain City. In fact, we have deeds to the home I grew up in that show it was once owned by Levi Coffin. It was not until years later that we started to learn and hear more about Catherine, who led these efforts alongside her husband but never earned quite the status or historical notoriety that he earned—proving once again, that behind every great man is an ever better woman!”

-        Jamie Raymond, RID, EDAC, LEED AP 

“Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet, along with lots of other impressive accomplishments. I’m inspired by how hopeful and uplifting her poetry is, and I just think the way she puts words together is beautiful. These are a couple pieces of her poems that I really like:

For there is always light,
If only we’re brave enough to see it,
If only we’re brave enough to be it.

The way forward isn’t a road we take
The way forward is a road we make,
A path we cast forth today.
For where there’s will, there’s women
And where there’s women
There is forever a way.”

-        Emma Walsh, RID

Building Trust in Healthcare: Part 1

Spatial justice

By Victoria Numbers

At Four Point Design, part of being “on point” with our clients means continually growing, learning, and enriching our understanding through exploration, conversations, and continued education. In this series, we explore a topic that has been top-of-mind for us lately: building trust in healthcare.

As we settle into the new year, many of us have been reflecting on what we’ve learned and experienced and how those insights will inspire our work and lives differently moving forward. One of my key takeaways in 2022 was learning more about the concept of spatial justice and reflecting on how it should drive our interior design work in the healthcare environment.

Last fall, I had the opportunity to attend the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo and hear about spatial justice from keynote speaker Liz Ogbu. Ogbu is founder and principal of multidisciplinary design and innovation practice, Studio O, which operates at the intersection of racial and spatial justice. Spatial justice, as Ogbu shares it in her TEDWomen 2017 talk, “means that we understand that justice has a geography and that the equitable distribution of resources, services, and access is a basic human right.”

As a designer, urbanist, and spatial justice activist, Ogbu is an expert on engaging and transforming unjust urban environments. Through her work, she collaborates within communities in need, leveraging design to be the catalyst for sustained social impact. (Learn more about Ogbu and her expertise on her website as well as her TEDWomen and TEDx and talks).

Our history is full of examples of how the approach and placement of infrastructure and buildings have created or worsened inequities and eroded trust. Ogbu’s presentation challenged me to think about how spatial justice applies to the healthcare environment—an essential component of communities.

Here are just a few ways I’ve been thinking about Ogbu’s presentation and how it is influencing my work moving forward.

1.    Empathetic listening. Ask any designer, and we’ll tell you that we listen to our clients. Yet how deeply are we empathetically listening to our clients’ clients—the community at large? Empathetic listening moves beyond asking standard questions and taking in information. It involves truly understanding, acknowledging, and imagining the situation through another’s perspective, so the resulting design can drive positive change.

2.    Meaningful and creative engagement. While empathic listening is powerful, true engagement is the goal. With her thought leadership in spatial justice, Ogbu encourages us to invite community members to the table to help co-create the design of facilities. That key word—co-create—is further inspiring my work at Four Point Design, where we use strategies like in person and virtual town halls, visioning boards, mock-up exercises, and more, to involve stakeholders in the design process in ways that work best for them.

3.    Honoring the place. From gaining an understanding of a neighborhood’s history by working with anthropologists to inviting longtime residents to share their experiences, uncovering the stories, legacy, and character of the area can help create an authentic space that acknowledges and honors the community.

4.    Advancing outcomes. Hospitals are a critical part of an ecosystem that involves patients, families, visitors, caregivers, and the greater community. In addition, the impact and influence of healthcare organizations reach far beyond their walls. Healthcare providers are doing work to address this call. For example, Eskenazi Health is creating clinics that meet patients where they are. At IU Health, the organization is assessing and addressing the overall needs of its community and how food insecurity, housing costs, and income inequality impact health and life expectancy. We appreciate the opportunity to work with organizations like these who are helping to improve access and outcomes in Indiana.

In any relationship, making a connection requires trust. In healthcare environment, that relationship is—quite literally—a critical one. When people trust health and wellness entities and they feel ownership in both the healthcare environments and the process of creating them, it can have a ripple effect on the health of the community and its residents. I’m grateful for the great work Liz Ogbu is doing, and I appreciate the opportunity to have heard her message at the Healthcare Facilities Symposium. We will continue to design inclusive environments, creating better tomorrows for everyone.

Four Point Design ‘22 in Review

For Four Point Design, 2022 was an exciting year as we celebrated our 7th year in business and added two new team members to the firm. 

Again this year, we had the opportunity to provide interior design services for organizations and firms doing purposeful work in our Indiana communities. We welcomed 12 new clients to our list of project partners, which allowed us to design thousands of square feet, specify $1 million worth of furniture, and nurture priceless relationships. 

Continuing education is an important part of Four Point Design’s culture and is just one way we live our commitment to being “On point, every time.” From national healthcare conferences like the Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo to NeoCon, the leading event for the commercial interior design industry, our interior designers participated in a variety of events to get inspired and advance their knowledge through 150 hours of continuing education. Kudos to Victoria Numbers, who achieved the Certified Healthcare Interior Designer® credential! 

At Four Point Design, we also love to give back. Through volunteerism and contributions, we supported 11 organizations, from interacting with kids sponsoring a Little League team and working with thousands of kids at Junior Achievement Jobspark to supporting fundraisers for IU Health Foundation, Major Health Partners, and Eskenazi Health. 

To all our clients, partners, and colleagues, thanks for making 2022 a great year. We look forward to a fun and fulfilling 2023! 

Interface + IIDA Converge Summit provides multiple takeaways for advancing sustainability in interior design

Four Point Design’s Emily Pittenger, Assoc. IIDA, WELL AP, recently attended the Converge Summit, an invitation-only event hosted by the International Interior Design Association and Interface.  

Emily (front row, third from left) and fellow Summit participants.

Held in Atlanta, the immersive Summit included expert panelists focusing on activism, leadership, and community through the lens of sustainability for designers starting out and emerging in their interior design careers. Emily and her 17 fellow participants also engaged in small-group discussions about how interior design professionals can advance sustainability.

“I’m grateful to have connected with this great group of designers and am excited to continue our dialogue around sustainable practices,” Emily said.

Over the Summit’s two-and-a-half days, attendees learned about topics including:  

• how to advance sustainability through projects, material selection, and collaboration with local product manufacturers,

• the power of the design community to reduce carbon emissions and foster healthier communities,

• tools and resources to help designers understand and reduce the carbon impact of building materials, and

• Metropolis’ Climate Tool Kit—a resource available to designers as a framework for designing low-carbon spaces.

Speakers and panelists included Chidimma Abuka, MBA, MIA, Gensler; Verda Alexander, IIDA, Studio O+A; George Bandy Jr., Ind. IIDA, Fiber Industries LLC; Ronnie Belizaire, FIIDA, JLL; Chip DeGrace, Interface; Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, International Interior Design Association; Erin Jende, Interface; Jay Lanier, Interface; Angie Y. Lee, FIIDA, Pembroke; Avi Rajagopal, Metropolis Magazine; Jen Ruckel, 3form; Paul Shahriari, ecomedes; Anna Webb, Interface.

Summit attendees also met the IIDA Board and sustainability leaders, toured Interface’s global headquarters to learn about their sustainable and biophilic design principles, and experienced an exclusive preview to the Museum of Design Atlanta exhibit, Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip-Hop Architecture.

WELCOME VICTORIA NUMBERS

Four Point Design is pleased to announce that Victoria Numbers, RID, MSIA, has joined the firm as a Senior Associate. Numbers has extensive experience leading design teams for clients in health, wellness, and higher education.

Victoria obtained a BS in Interior Design from West Virginia University and a MS in Interior Architecture from Philadelphia University.

She is passionate about working hand-in-hand with clients and collaborators to make a significant positive impact through purposefully designed, inclusive interior environments.

Victoria connects with the community in a number of ways, including as an adjunct faculty in the Interior Design program at IUPUI. She volunteers with the ISO and Newfields, and is a Healthcare Facilities Symposium BOA Member.

“Victoria’s ardent commitment to healthcare design, the community and mentorship, combined with an entrepreneurial spirit makes her a perfect addition to the Four Point team. Her passion for healthcare design aligns perfectly with our strategic plan for growth of the business.”

— Jamie Raymond, Partner at Four Point Design

THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: BALANCING PATIENT EXPERIENCE WITH SAFETY

Furniture located within healthcare settings receives substantial abuse and rigorous daily cleanings. How can you prolong the life of furniture while still cleaning and disinfecting properly?

1. Utilize solid surface countertops with an integral sink bowl at patient care and public areas. Solid surface provides a seamless, easy to clean high touch surface. 

2. Consider using furniture pieces with metal legs in lieu of wood. Metal withstands abuse and heavy cleaning protocols over time.

3. For upholstered pieces, look for the following:

   • Field replaceable parts such as legs, arms, and seats.

   • Cleanouts between seat and back for ease of cleaning.

   • Field replaceable upholstered furniture covers can be changed in the field when upholstery becomes damaged or worn.

   • Wall saver legs and backs prevents chairs from damaging the walls behind.

   • Urethane or solid surface arm caps protect upholstered arms and withstand heavy cleaning protocols.

   • Ensure that all seating meets weight requirements, and integrate bariatric seating choices seamlessly.

   • Use only durable non woven textiles in your patient care areas. Be sure to understand your upholsteries warranties and cleaning recommendations. Consider that your upholsteries will last 3-5 years at a maximum, and have a plan for replacement including replaceable covers and an operational budget that supports replacement.

4. What cleaners are recommended to kill COVID-19? See link below from Enviro Leather. https://www.ldiinteriors.com/wp-content/uploads/COVID-19-Cleaners.pdf

THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: BALANCING PATIENT EXPERIENCE WITH SAFETY

The patient room should provide a comfortable place to heal while balancing infection control and safety. The built environment can achieve both goals using the following guidelines.

1. Controllable, multi-function over bed lighting provides ambient, exam, and reading light levels.

2. The patient room TV can be used for both education and entertainment. With family members temporarily no longer allowed in patient units, it can also be used to video conference family members.

3. Access to natural light and outdoor views are proven to improve healing times.

4. Easy access to power and/or USB allows patients the ability to charge their devices and stay connected to family members not present.

5. Opportunities for patients and family members to personalize the room can include a designated shelf for flowers, cards, and pictures.

6. Sheet vinyl with heat welded seams and integral base are sometimes reserved for higher acuity rooms such as ICU, Isolation, and NICU. As healthcare design changes over the next few months, we may see more patient rooms with sheet vinyl to increase flexibility.

7. Solid surface countertops with integral solid surface bowl sinks create a monolithic seamless surface that is easy to clean.

8. Floating counters and casework minimize hard to reach places and allow for rooms to be disinfected quickly and efficiently.

9. Encourage good hand hygiene practices by placing the sink next to the door and illuminating with proper light level.

10. Cubicle curtains are no longer a standard in patient rooms. If desired, reusable cubicle curtains can be an alternative to reduce the spread of bacteria.

THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: BALANCING PATIENT EXPERIENCE WITH SAFETY

While we don’t yet know the full impact of COVID - 19 on the future of the built environment, what is certain is that change is coming.

How do we balance the patient experience while keeping staff, patients, and families safe?  In a series of upcoming blog posts, we will share ways the interior built environment can support the healing of patients, support of staff, and safety for everyone.