Architecture shapes all of our lives, impacting how we interact with one another and the community around us. From hospitals and clinics to schools and offices, architects create places where communities heal, learn, work, and so much more—which is why it’s so important that buildings are designed to not only function well but to address physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of users.
Care and Customization
By partnering closely with clients to understand the unique challenges they face, architects have the ability to bring community needs and aspirations to life with innovative, tailored solutions. Great design isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s about creating spaces that are thoughtfully optimized for the people who use them. Whether the goal is improved layout, greater functionality, enhanced safety, or increased flexibility, the most impactful projects emerge from a collaborative process built on active listening, thoughtful questioning, and shared vision.
Over the years, BWBR has developed a deep knowledgeable of healthcare design (my particular specialty) and we layer this knowledge with the specific needs and requests of the community and client to create a collaborative design approach on every project. Recently I worked on a few projects with a client that we have developed a great relationship with. Because of this, when redesign and further code research was required on an existing building, we were able to talk through the potential design pivot and work together to find the solution that worked best for them.
Specialized Knowledge
To successfully create spaces that are customized to serve communities, specialized knowledge is key to allowing architects to best support complex project types and deeply understand client needs. For example, my own work taps into BWBR’s specialized knowledge in neuroscience and behavioral health, two patient groups that face unique challenges that the built environment holds great power to impact.
Neuroscience facilities, serving patients that may struggle with memory and cognitive challenges or mobility concerns, can utilize strategic, research-informed design to improve the patient experience. On this Ochsner Health project, the design team implemented a multi-layered approach to wayfinding, using multiple visual clues such as colors, graphics, and textures as well as intuitive layout, clear paths of travel, and recognizable landmarks. These design strategies help enhance independence, comfort, and confidence for patients and their families amid challenging health struggles while also enabling medical professionals to provide high-quality, compassionate care. I truly enjoy the design process on these projects because we are actively working to make a space that will positively impact patients’ lives. It’s never “just another clinic,” but a space where the architecture can make their experience a positive one, and not just another challenge.
Community Impact
It is because of this impact buildings have on the community around us all that I have made it a mission to bring an understanding of architecture and the profession to my local community. I have spent the past few years in classrooms and different community spaces talking to students of various ages with the goal of educating children on the role of an architect while giving them opportunities to explore and understand design. By being a positive mentor in the community, my goal is for kids to see themselves as architects, hopefully opening the profession to a more diverse group of people than would otherwise have considered going into design.
During the 2024-2025 school year, I talked to thirty different classrooms (grades 1-8) and one girl scout troop, which amounts to roughly 500 students. The more children understand and engage directly with an architect, the more likely they will consider the profession for themselves and start to comprehend the impact buildings have in their communities. I love the energy the children bring to every lesson—their insight and perspective is so refreshing and it’s invigorating to see the creative approach they bring to their projects. The questions they ask occasionally blow me out of the water and even sometimes get me to think differently.
Shaping and Being Shaped
We shape architecture, and then it shapes our community, which in turn shapes us. BWBR’s thoughtful approach to architecture understands the importance of the community that surrounds all of us as we strive to empathically approach our designs for a positive impact on the communities we are designing around. Our understanding and connection to our local communities helps to reinforce our desire to learn and develop better designs for the individuals we touch through our work.