In mid June, Christine and Elaine traveled to Chicago to attend NeoCon 2011 – North America’s largest design exposition for commercial interiors. They visited many different showrooms and viewed thousands of new products available for commercial and residential spaces. In particular, DIRTT introduced their Imbedded Murphy Beds for healthcare and one of their latest wall systems, Peek a Boo.
Kaiser Permenante Anaheim Medical Center – Work in Progress
With a targeted completion date of Spring 2012, the new 7-story 400,000+ sf hospital at Kaiser Permanente Orange County Anaheim Medical Center will consist of 262 beds with a Diagnostics and Treatment portion, as well as integrated nursing towers to offer acute-care and emergency services. With a healing garden on the medical campus and an exterior courtyard between the two patient towers, the interiors scheme was based upon the concept of “bringing the exterior indoors” to create a complete healing environment. Bright splashes of color and the use of natural (Kirei) or natural-looking materials (wood laminates, porcelain tile at main spine, “wood” plank floors, etc.) help to orient the patients and visitors of their locations in the space as well as provide a fresh palette to the new hospital.
Community Service
PDA recently completed a pro bono project for the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica. With three of our senior designers belonging to the congregation, we gladly donated our design services for the remodel of the community center and the classroom and specified materials that satisfied LEED Gold standards such as linoleum flooring, Kirei panels and zero VOC paint among others. Over 95% of the construction waste was diverted from the landfill which exceeded the Santa Monica Green Building Code of 65% diverted construction waste. In the end, the community can enjoy a beautifully remodeled space that is also environmentally sustainable.
Going the Distance
On March 20, 2011, our own team member, Lisa Bonnet, was one of 26,000 runners who journeyed through the 26.2 miles of the Honda L.A. Marathon. Braving the torrential and freezing weather conditions, Lisa bested her own time from last year by 50 minutes and clocked in at 5:30:49 while raising $1,500 for AIDS Project Los Angeles. In preparation for this long trek, Lisa trained with T2EA (Team to End AIDS) for 6 months to accomplish this amazing feat. Congratulations!!
Local Carpet Mill Tour
Christine and Linda recently participated in an IIDA-sponsored tour of Bentley Prince Street’s carpet mill – one of the few and the largest that exists locally in southern California. They witnessed first-hand tufting machines in action that create the carpets we specify as well as the on-site testing facility. Known for their sustainable products and processes in the industry, Bentley Prince Street’s mill also houses a spacious showroom and design studio. Inside the design studio, our team members viewed upcoming new products currently in development. Also as part of the tour, they attended a seminar regarding carpeting and adhesives and their contribution to the LEED point certification process. All in all, it was a fascinating and very educational day thanks to Deborah and Tom!
