“A Case for Humanistic Solutions in Healthcare Design” will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 2014

New York, NY – March 4, 2014 – Celebrated architect Michael Graves, FAIA, has been in the forefront of architecture and design since he founded his practice in 1964. In his lecture at the New York School of Interior Design—entitled “A Case for Humanistic Solutions in Healthcare Design”-- he will discuss the foundation of his design philosophy and how a personal healthcare tragedy focused his attention on improving healthcare experiences by design. He will present recent projects that range from military housing for returning wounded warriors to a revolutionary transport chair for the acute care hospital to performance textiles for all healthcare environments. The lecture will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 6:30pm at the New York School of Interior Design, 170 East 70th Street, NYC.

Michael Graves puts patients first with common sense design solutions for some of healthcare’s greatest challenges. He has designed hospitals, a range of healthcare products, and universally accessible homes, based on extensive research and his own personal experience of being paralyzed for nearly ten years. “When I became paralyzed, I spent a lot of time in hospitals and rehab centers,” says Graves. “I immediately gained a new perspective, and I knew great design could improve healthcare experiences and healing outcomes.”

In 2013, he partnered with Stryker Medical to develop a new hospital wheelchair, Prime TC, which aims to increase comfort for the patient and caregiver, improve safety, and cut costs for hospitals. In 2009 he also worked with Stryker to launch a new line of innovative hospital furnishings such as the bedside stand, the overbed table, and the patient room chair.

Graves designed universally accessible homes as part of the Wounded Warrior Home Project at Fort Belvoir. The single-family residences are intended to better serve wounded soldiers and their families as they remain on active duty. He is the architect for a 250,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility for Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, which is currently under construction. The two-story building will provide a humanistic and welcoming environment that cohesively aligns with the hospital’s emphasis on holistic rehabilitation.

Graves has served as an advisory board member at the New York School of Interior Design for more than a decade. He has also been a program advisor for the Master of Professional Studies in Healthcare Interior Design program since its inception in 2011. NYSID awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2011 at the College’s commencement ceremony.

This lecture is in conjunction with “Maggie’s Centres: A Blueprint for Cancer Care,” an exhibition that illustrates how architecture, interiors, and landscape design work together to create an environment of help and healing for cancer patients and their families. The exhibition will be on view from March 7 – April 25, 2014 at the NYSID Gallery, 161 East 69th Street, NYC.  Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm.

EVENT DETAILS:
Michael Graves: A Case for Humanistic Solutions in Healthcare Design
Wednesday, March 26, 6:30pm
Reception immediately following the lecture

New York School of Interior Design
Satz Auditorium
170 East 70th Street, NYC.
TICKETS: $12 general admission; $10 seniors and students
Register: nysid.edu/publicprograms

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About New York School of Interior Design
Founded in 1916, the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) is a private, not-for-profit college devoted exclusively to interior design education and related disciplines. NYSID’s guiding principle is that the interior environment is a fundamental element of human welfare and the College is committed to actively improving the quality of life for all segments of humanity. This ideal is put into practice by a dedicated faculty of designers, architects, art historians, and authorities in the field who guide more than 700 full- and part-time students.

NYSID offers certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs in the field of interior design, design history and theory, sustainable design, interior lighting design, and healthcare interior design. A wide range of classes are also offered through our Institute for Continuing and Professional Studies. The College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD); is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; and NYSID’s BFA and MFA-1 programs are accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). www.nysid.edu

About Michael Graves & Associates
Michael Graves & Associates has been in the forefront of architecture and design for 50 years. Today, the overall architecture and design practice comprises two firms run by ten principals. Michael Graves Design Group (MGDG) specializes in product design, graphics and branding and Michael Graves & Associates (MGA) provides planning, architecture and interior design services. MGDG has designed and brought to market over 2,000 products for clients such as Stryker Medical, JC Penney, Target, Alessi, and Disney. MGA has designed many master plans and the architecture and interiors of over 40, and a wide variety of academic facilities. Graves and the firms have received over 200 awards for design excellence. With its unique, highly integrated multidisciplinary practice, the Michael Graves Companies offer strategic advantages to clients worldwide.  Please visit www.michaelgraves.com.