Christine and Marta joined a room full of industry leaders to hear motivational speaker, Kevin Carroll talk about passion and play in the workplace and utilizing creative energy to remain motivated. As guests of Formica and Steve Francis & Associates, our staff was inspired and driven to cultivate that energy to achieve the maximum potential in our projects and their own personal growth.
The San Francisco Marathon
Two of our own team members, Lisa and Marta, trained for and participated in The San Francisco Marathon on Sunday, July 31st. This was Lisa’s third marathon overall and her first in SF. Participating in her first run, Marta completed the SF 1st Half Marathon in her personal best for time. Lisa and Marta both received commemorative medals to mark their incredible achievements. Way to go, ladies!
Chromatherapy – Healing Colors
When choosing color for our homes, it’s not unusual for some of us to spend days or weeks searching for just the right shade. What we think of as color is actually reflected light that reaches our retinas through vibratory wavelengths. Our brains then interpret the waves as colors. Color, therefore, is really a sensation. Our dynamic and emotional relationship with color and being conscious of how we apply it in our environment forms the basis of chromatherapy, a branch of holistic healing that uses color to achieve optimal health. Research has shown that certain colors have measurable psychological and physiological effects on people. Studies also have shown that people attach symbolic significance to certain colors. Incorporating chromatherapy into your home can be as fundamental as choosing paint and fabric colors that correspond with particular emotional states. Cool colors, such as green, blue and indigo are thought to be calming, while red, orange and other warm colors are said to have energizing effects.
In another innovative use of chromatherapy, Kohler integrates colored lights in several models of its whirlpool baths. With the touch of a button, you can bathe yourself in eight colors — the full spectrum of light — for an experience that’s both relaxing and invigorating. Four LED ports, positioned within the tub’s inner walls, sequentially transmit the colors; or, you can select the one color that best fits your mood. Light adds dimensionality to color, which intensifies its impact. Some experts believe that embracing the concept could be the key to success with chromatherapy.
Unique Ceiling Element
On a recent visit to Studio Lilica, Christine met with Carl Royce to view the full-size mockup of the suspended fabric ceiling system for the UC Davis Telemedicine Resource Center. The piece is custom designed and will use architectural lighting to create a luminous fabric surface. This design element softens the environment, improves the acoustics and will be hung along the main public corridor on each floor of the new building.
UC Davis Telemedicine Resource Center
Working under the architectural team at Lee, Burkhart, Liu, Inc., the construction of the new 50,000 sf UC Davis Telemedicine Resource Center is right on schedule to be completed Sprint 2012. Located adjacent to the completed School of Medicine Education Building, this new facility will be (self-certified) LEED Silver and will feature “smart” classrooms, mock exam rooms, a medical simulation suite, trainer stations, a production studio and associated administrative offices and support space. The facility will be outfitted with state-of-the-art technology for medical simulation teaching and community outreach to rural California communities.
