DesignGroup

Connect, innovate, and grow as a healthcare architect at DesignGroup! If you have a passion for technical expertise and health and wellness in your community, apply to join our Pittsburgh team as a Senior Project Architect or our Columbus team as a Project Architect.

🔗 https://designgroup.us.com/careers

Join us in welcoming David Sparling, a registered architect with nearly nine years of post-graduate experience and a robust background in construction. David is passionate about serving his community by building high-quality structures and delivering exceptional service. A proud alumnus of Kent State University, where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master of Architecture degrees, David has made significant contributions to numerous projects, including the The Ohio State University Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Center. His diverse market experience highlights his relentless problem-solving skills and strong advocacy for his team and clients’ goals. Welcome to the team, David!

The most profitable areas of a hospital are also the most complex to update. DesignGroup’s Angela Kolosky explains how to do it right.

🔗 https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/surgery-department-renovations-three-must-know-ideas-any-scale

Join us in welcoming Benjamin Haywood to DesignGroup! Ben comes to our Columbus office as a Project Associate with a wealth of experience in industrial architecture. Throughout his professional career, Ben has acquired skills ranging from project coordination to construction administration, which he now brings to DesignGroup's healthcare and higher education practices. He is an alumnus of The Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture and—during his free time—enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and disc golf, plus spending time with his two dogs.

Input from operational roles is crucial for hospital expansion projects. They have great ideas because they see and affect everything.

"I recently spent time with a family member in the hospital," shares Healthcare Planning Market Leader, Angela Kolosky. "I was impressed with the doctors and nurses who provided excellent clinical care. But the people I remember the most are the environmental services techs who diligently tended to the room each day. Always with a smile, they would quietly enter the space, ensure all areas were orderly and clean, check that everything was going okay, and efficiently move on to the next room."

🔗 https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/unsung-heroes-insights-non-clinical-staff

Pride is a special time to honor love, diversity, and individuality! It's a moment for us to come together, celebrate who we are, support one another, and advocate for the rights of our LGBTQIA+ friends. The first Pride was a protest demanding equal rights, and today, we uphold that legacy by uniting to celebrate our community and work towards a world where everyone feels they belong. This Pride, DesignGroup is excited to support Kaleidoscope Youth Center in Columbus, Ohio through a sponsorship of their 30th Anniversary Gala on October 10, 2024 at the Columbus Museum of Art. We are proud to promote their work in creating a sense of belonging, community, and Pride.



https://www.kycohio.org/

It’s a crucial stage of what we do – the moment project ideas, fueled by necessity and inspiration, move from planning (shaping ideas) to architecture (the real commitment of time, resources, and capital). What makes for successful transition from concept to project ex*****on? It’s something we think about every day.

DesignGroup CEO Sherm Moreland shares five key insights for this transitional phase of a project, based on real-world experiences.

🔗 https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/when-ideas-become-real-transforming-healthcare-planning-architecture

Check out Ohio History Connection’s $22-million Collections Care Center!

Earlier this month, DesignGroup celebrated the opening of this 16,500-SF facility, which will soon store 900,000 historical artifacts such as taxidermy, military objects, clothing, art, and furniture. The building also provides state-of-the-art office space for Ohio History Connection employees!

Learn more about the Collections Care Center in this article from The Columbus Dispatch. 🔗

New high-tech home unveiled for up to 900,000 of Ohio History Connection's artifacts Ohio History Connection unveiled a a $22 million, 16,500 square-foot property to house as many as 900,000 historical artifacts from Ohio history.

Congratulations to Christopher Haedt, DesignGroup Principal and Columbus Healthcare Practice Leader, for joining this year’s class of HCD 10 awardees! The HCD 10 program acknowledges individuals and organizations influencing healthcare design across ten categories—Chris has been honored in the category of Educator.

As a leader within the AIA Columbus Healthcare Committee and an Advisory Board member for Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo, there is no doubt that Chris has impacted the education of industry professionals. He is also a frequent speaker at local and national conferences, and regularly contributes his insights to DesignGroup’s articles.

Read more about the 2024 honorees in Healthcare Design Magazine.

🔗 https://healthcaredesignmagazine.com/news/healthcare-design-magazine-announces-2024-hcd-10-honorees/

What’s on the mind of DesignGroup’s Healthcare Planning Market Leader? Acuity shifts, rural healthcare, client relationships, staffing, and trauma-informed design.

Read what Angela Kolosky has to say about the five topics in this Healthcare Design article by Tracey Walker.

🔗 https://healthcaredesignmagazine.com/trends/perspectives/take-5-with-designgroups-angela-kolosky/

Pinterest for things that could be, rather than things that already are.” This is how Principal and Senior Designer Joseph Mayer describes AI.

Though DesignGroup only began testing AI tools within the last year, Joe already sees their benefit in assisting with processes such as data management. But like many in creative fields, he hopes AI “allows us to focus more than it necessarily replaces what we all love to do and come to work to do every day.”

Read what else Joe has to say about AI and architecture in this Columbus Business First article by Zachary Jarrell.

Principal at top architecture firm calls AI 'Pinterest for things that could be, rather than things that already are' - Columbus Business First Like many companies, DesignGroup is in the early stages of its experimentation with AI. It brings both excitement and a healthy amount of trepidation.

When a hospital grows, it needs a more thoughtful approach to the needs of staff and patients alike. Principal and Columbus Healthcare Practice Group Leader Christopher Haedt shares five strategies for physical space that help accommodate shifts in acuity and improved care coordination.

https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/future-inpatient-care-five-strategies-patient-room

Looking for a flexible architectural role that allows you to turn creative concepts into reality and support wellness in your community? Apply today to join DesignGroup’s healthcare practice as a Project Architect or Project Associate in our Columbus office!

🔗 https://designgroup.us.com/careers

Last week, Pittsburgh team members Tom Stanko, Heather Clark, and Emily Wagner attended a groundbreaking ceremony for AHN’s West Penn Hospital Central Sterile renovation. They were joined by MBM Contracting, Inc.,our engineering partners H.F. Lenz Company and TSE, as well as Allegheny Health Network leadership and staff. Swipe to see a rendering of the future space, due to be completed in 2025!

We are excited to welcome two summer interns to DesignGroup!

Joining our Columbus team is Ben Kaufman, a graduate student at The Ohio State University. As a Columbus native, Ben hopes to improve the community through architecture. He is a life-long learner who loves to explore new interests and acquire different skills such as wood-working, ceramics, and photography.

Corinne Bringe comes to our Pittsburgh team, having recently completed her third year in architecture at Penn State. Corinne is Treasurer of NOMAS Penn State and a member of the Penn State Solar Decathlon MEP team. Her passion lies in understanding how interaction with architecture evokes human emotion.

When a hospital aspires to provide expanded, advanced care to a community, among the countless upsides is one risk that’s easy to overlook: losing the comfortable, familiar bond between the facility and the community. That hard-earned trust and connection is a very real consideration we discuss with every project. How do we balance hospital mission and community impact? By never losing sight of the people in that community: how they perceive the project, understanding their needs, and paying attention to the myriad details that affect both.

It’s fair (in fact, a duty) for any growing community healthcare facility to ask serious questions of their design partners. Senior Designer Joe Mayer shares several common questions we hear, and our answers for putting client communities at ease.

https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/staying-connected-expanding-hospital-maintaining-community

Over the weekend, DesignGroup’s Managing Principal Tom Chidlow and Associate Principal John Ryan rode with members of RM Creative and Auxia Design for Rush to Crush Cancer, a cycling event benefiting UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

For this second annual event, Rush to Crush Cancer brought together riders, donors, and volunteers to promote wellness, celebrate community, and raise funds for cancer research. Cycling routes ranged from 15 to 60 miles throughout the Pittsburgh area—Tom and John biked a hilly 30-mile route!

We are thrilled to welcome Longney Luk to DesignGroup! Longney has joined our Pittsburgh healthcare team as a Project Associate and brings with him experience as a Designer and Sustainability Consultant. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelors in Architecture and Masters of Science in Sustainable Design. He is also a Co-Lead Team Board Member of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Pittsburgh Chapter, through which he contributes to Project Pipeline: seasonal architectural workshops for local middle and high school students.

“In a world where universities are increasingly feeling a squeeze for space, reimagining how existing structures can be used more efficiently through hybrid work arrangements is the key to sustainable development.”

Learn how DesignGroup helped the University of Pittsburgh reduce their IT department’s architectural footprint by 66 percent in this Facilities Manager magazine article written by Associate Principal John Ryan.

Hybrid offices are a Necessary Future for Universities Facing the Squeeze for Campus Space | APPA The University of Pittsburgh, like many universities, was running out of space. Their solution came even before the Covid-19 pandemic brought on the remote work revolution. The university would take…

In this dynamic discussion on the pressing issues of office vacancies, DesignGroup’s Alan Schlossberg joins David Robinson and Brian Bernstein on the Montrose Group’s Podcast Series: The Development Debate.

The discussion covers the need to be open and flexible about the use type for a successful office conversion, the neighborhood impact, and actionable steps for owners, developers, and communities. With office vacancies at 18.3%, it's clear we need to rethink our approach to struggling buildings, including those in Downtown Columbus. And it’s important that residential uses aren’t the only conversion options being considered.

Listen here!

Downtown Redevelopment: Attacking the Doom Loop | Development Debate Dave Robinson hosts Alan Schlossberg and Brian Bernstein this week to discuss the "Doom Loop." With expertise in architecture, public space and building reuse planning, Brian and Alan provide great insight on this weeks episode.

Volumetric and panelized prefabricated components are a popular way to speed up construction, lower cost, and reduce waste – in the right circumstances. Here’s a look at the benefits and cautions associated with prefab construction (and how we’re using it today), in an article by Project Architect Jamie Oxier.

https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/prefab-construction-time-tested-technique-new-innovations

Joining Columbus Business First’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024 is DesignGroup Principal and Senior Designer, Joe Mayer!

As Business First describes, “the 40 Under 40 Awards honor 40 rising stars in the local business world who have distinguished themselves in their companies, their communities, and their industries—all before their 40th birthday. These young professionals are executives, innovators and entrepreneurs who represent our region’s next generation of business leaders.”

We know this to be true for Joe, who leads design across all markets, champions our initiatives on sustainability and wellness, and even co-captains the office Pelotonia team.

Here’s to Joe and his well-deserved achievement!

Sign into your Business First account to read more here: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2024/04/02/40-under-40-2024-honorees.html

In honor of Developmental Disability Awareness Month, we are excited to reveal a new project with Pressley Ridge. Breaking ground in June, this 60,000-SF renovation to Pressley Ridge Day School in Pittsburgh’s North Side will provide specialized education programming for students with social/emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs as well as intellectual disabilities.

The renovated facility will include academic space, outfitted with calm and sensory rooms, as well as career development, administrative, and family counseling spaces.

DesignGroup is excited to be featured in Columbus Business First, courtesy of Bonnie Meibers. Following NAIOP Central Ohio 's presentation "Battling the Doom Loop"—with David Robinson of The Montrose Group and Brian Bernstein of REALM Collaborative—Alan Schlossberg, panelist and DesignGroup Principal, spoke to Meibers about the immense potential of converting vacant office buildings.

In a quote for the article, Alan explains: "You can't move the building ... so you have to evaluate context from a new (occupant) point of view.... Adaptive reuse is part of the solution."

Context is one of six categories in DesignGroup's analysis framework for adaptive reuse. The idea illustrates how a property can be more or less successful when evaluated for different occupants and use patterns—it is an essential tool for moving beyond residential as the only potential repositioning solution.

In this rendering, DesignGroup explores converting a former mid-century building to accommodate new street-level amenities and a cafe with outdoor plaza seating.

Log into your Business First account to read the article here: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2024/03/06/doom-to-bloom-panel.html

Don't have a Business First account? You can also learn more in Alan's article "Unused Office Space: Problem and Potential" here: https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/unused-office-space-problem-and-potential

DesignGroup is looking for a dynamic Project Architect to turn visionary designs into reality with our vibrant Columbus, Ohio team. If you are in search for a collaborative, ideas-driven environment, follow the link below to apply!

https://designgroup.us.com/jobs/project-architect-columbus

We are proud to share a significant milestone. When Ohio University began the design phase of its new Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine building in Athens, Ohio, it put health and wellness at the heart of the project. This collaboration between DesignGroup and Perkins&Will was just awarded WELL Certification Silver level, one of the first medical education buildings in the country to achieve it.

The project helped OU establish its Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum. We’ve never seen a built environment and educational mission align quite like this – the university’s goals were perfectly aligned with DesignGroup’s legacy of creating architecture that responds to societal needs. We loved being part of an effort to push these values even further.

Learn more in this new article by DesignGroup Principal and Senior Interior Designer Alana Haslow.

🔗 https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/achieving-well-certification-healthcare-education

is special. It’s an opportunity to celebrate women we work with and reflect on the plight of those around the world who haven’t yet had the same opportunities.

Women have played a key role in DesignGroup from the beginning. Today, more than half our staff are women (rare for the AEC industry), including our President Jennifer Horvath and many of our senior leaders. Their influence extends far beyond our projects; they’re active advocates and mentors for women in our field and beyond.

“We're no longer striving for a seat at the table of equality,” says Veneetha Jose, DesignGroup's Director of Human Resources. “We have achieved it. Now we channel our efforts into forging better versions of ourselves every day. When we do, we become vessels of grace and champions to those within our sphere of influence.”

We’re so fortunate to work with them every day.

Project Spotlight: The Ohio State University Newark John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology

The John & Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology is a facility shared by The Ohio State University (OSU) and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC). The building brings together teaching and research labs, learning environments, and collaborative working space for multiple programs, including chemistry, biological sciences, nursing technologies, radiologic sciences technology, surgical technologies, physics, anthropology, geology, paleontology, and anatomy. Among these research environments were laboratories and rearing rooms for both spiders and bees. It also includes campus IT infrastructure that services the entire campus.

The new building is situated in a prominent location on the Newark campus and will serve as an architecturally significant gateway. The laboratory planning optimizes shared interdepartmental space and adjacencies and promote collaborative teaching opportunities to maximize synergy between OSU and COTC resources. In addition to multiple teaching labs, this project features 10 types of research space.

This project was a collaboration between DesignGroup and Perkins&Will and has been LEED Silver Certified.

Project Spotlight: Adena Health System PACCAR Medical Education Laboratory

Designed to provide outstanding nursing education, the PACCAR Medical Education Laboratory is a tool for enhancing quality of life and transforming the region’s workforce. This learning lab includes a virtual hospital with patient simulators, surgical labs, technologically advanced classrooms, and a high-tech auditorium. It provides nursing education through collaboration with Ohio University-Chillicothe, Wright State University, and other partner institutions in the area. Use of recycled, renewable, and regional materials reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, increases local economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials, and creates a smaller carbon footprint by reducing thousands of miles worth of greenhouse gas emissions related to material transport. An educational outreach program highlights its sustainable features and encourages green building in the region.