Putting Research Into Action (sort of)

In Specialization Studio, we are to take what we have learned from our "case study" earlier in the semester and apply it to a design.  I had prepared a study, looking at evidence-based design for hemodialysis units.  The three factors that seemed most compelling to me were:

• giving patients choices
• opportunity to exercise during dialysis
• positive distractions

I have chosen to the Inland Steel Building in Chicago as the site of my design.  It is a stunning building in the Chicago Loop, the first skyscraper built after the Depression.  It is known for its open floor plates.  The primary core is located in an adjacent tower.

Hemodialysis centers are often located in medical centers or in less densely populated areas.  I liked the idea of situating one in a dense urban area.  As people who require dialysis may need to be there 3-4 hours at a time, 3 times per week, it makes sense to me to locate a center close to wear people work and live.  In addition, I wanted to tackle the problem of implementing a complex medical program in a building that is neither a medical building nor new.