16, Part 2, Sara Parsons

In the second part of my conversation with the talented Sara Parsons, Principal at Gallun Snow Interior Design, Sara discusses the importance of artwork, color and furnishings in the behavioral and mental healthcare setting. She says, "The evolution of the design in behavioral and mental health facilities is exciting right now because there are finally options that don't look like a prison aesthetic." I'm excited to share the second part of our conversation now. Visit http://gallunsnow.com to learn more about Sara Parsons and Gallun Snow Interior Design. Thank you to our industry partner The Center For Health Design! Learn more about how CHD can support your firm by visiting: http://healthdesign.org. And to the American Association of Healthcare Interior Designers, thank you for your support of this program. Enhance your professional credibility by earning the Certified Healthcare Interior Design credential. Visit http://aahid.org for more info. In part two of this episode you will learn: How focused listening to the client and a deeper understanding of the culture of the end users in a building leads to the most impactful of design details in a hospital or healthcare space. How to take a lesson learned on a previous project and apply it to your current one. How young Sara was influenced by her rehabilitation physician Dad's story about a quadriplegic patient in the rehab hospital. Sara's recommendations to new designers just starting out or those in the field or existing interior designers who want to move into the healthcare design space. What makes the design of a healthcare space successful for Sara. How to balance the needs of the healthcare provider with the patient and their family support systems through the design of a space. What it was like for Sara to be a designer when ADA laws were first passed and how that influenced a historic preservation of a project. Understanding the challenges of the people that Sara (and her team at Gallun Snow) design for is the fun part of healthcare design for Sara. The millennial generation is the generation that is most focused on making a difference and why this is important to the field of healthcare design. The evolution of the design in behavioral health is exciting right now because there are finally options that don't create a prison aesthetic in the mental health setting. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 5 adults in the US experience mental illness in their life in any given year. 1 in 25 adults experiences serious mental illness in the United States, in any given year. What patients need most in mental and behavioral health facilities is empathy, understanding and comfort, and not just removing potential dangers from the environment.  Featured Product Porcelanosa's KRION® Solid Surface Material is made out of two-thirds natural minerals and a low percentage of high-resistance resins. KRION® is available in an array of colors, can be thermocurved or backlit, and is antibacterial – making it a perfect product for the healthcare industry. KRION® is also highly resistant to impacts and external elements (such as fire, chemicals, and frost), and is easy to clean and maintain.  Inspired by the properties of photocatalytic materials, Porcelanosa has evolved their KRION® Solid Surface material called K-LIFE. When K-LIFE comes into contact with light, it will be able to purify the air, expel harmful bacteria, and more. K-LIFE can easily be integrated into many applications – from wall coverings and claddings for ceilings, to custom tables, bars, sinks, shelving units and furniture. The application of K-LIFE in areas with high daily traffic, such as waiting rooms or reception areas, can assure a gradual decontamination of germs and lead to ongoing ecological benefits. Some research performed with KRION® K-LIFE, which has photocatalytic properties, proved that the material can significantly reduce the presence of bacteria. This revolutionary process has led to a patent pending, innovative, and exclusive product that will have a direct effect on our quality of life. Learn more about KRION® at https://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/what-is-krion/.