Healthcare projects today, whether they’re inpatient or outpatient settings, are fueled by client goals of achieving flexibility and reduced cost. In the design and construction world, the latest trend to answer those combined needs isn’t new at all—rather, it’s a new application of an old solution: prefabricated wall systems.
The use of color in healthcare settings has evolved over the last five years, influenced by a variety of factors, including global design trends, consumer research, patient satisfaction studies and market drivers from other segments. When it comes to healthcare facilities, we’re seeing less of the stereotypical institutional colors, and more healthcare systems that are influenced by residential design, as well as taking color cues from the hospitality and commercial markets.
Certainly, the attitudes and preferences of tomorrow’s senior population may be very different than the generation we currently serve. Yet the clinical needs will remain constant. As the U.S. population ages, the design of our inpatient facilities will need to accommodate the needs and desires of the elderly more than any other age group.
