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CARITAS recap Industry The CARITAS Project was founded in 1999 to discover new ways to design healthcare environments that both sys- temically and sustainably improve lives. In 2003, as the result of being funded to con- duct a UK government-supported research project, the concept of generative space was defi ned and developed as the method to achieve TCP's aspiration. Today, the CARITAS Project conducts various educational initiatives to bring research fi ndings into mainstream practice. One of these initiatives, Generative Space Week (generativespaceweek.net), includes a range of programs that enable individu- als to learn about generative space and to experience it directly. Several Generative Space Week programs are held in conjunc- tion with the Healthcare Facilities Sympo- sium and Expo, or HFSE. One of these programs, the AIA/TCP Student Design Charette, having completed its second year, was held in conjunction with the HFSE. This charette is a partner- ship between the Chicago AIA Chapter, its Healthcare Knowledge Community and The CARITAS Project. This year's charette was a source of inspiration for participants, those who attended its HFSE presenta- tions, as well as for those who engaged with its students. Five design schools each sent three stu- dents and a faculty advisor to: (1) produce a design for a next-generation outpatient care service; (2) learn about generative space and how to integrate it within the design of their projects; (3) actively engage with industry leaders through full partici- pation in the Healthcare Facilities Sym- posium and Expo and (4) have a real-time experience of professional work by being hosted to design their projects within the of ces of the fi ve local fi rms that "adopted" each one of the schools. Participants learned about generative space and how to apply the gained knowl- edge to create systemic and sustainable improvements in lives, organizations and communities. One of the key learning objectives, to support this outcome, is collaborative engagement. The most common approach to organizing charettes, is to have it be a competition where the students all com- pete against one another and a winner is designated and receives a prize. In designing this charette to be a learn- ing experience for teaching future leaders to actively focus design ef orts toward the making of a better world, the competitive aspect was eliminated and, instead, each participate was a winner through their personal learning experiences. Toward this end, each school functioned as a col- laborative design team and developed its own unique solution. The collaborative spirit was infectious, and it enlivened the experience of all those who engaged with the students and their projects. Student teams presented designs to an audience of professionals at the HFSE, which included a panel of generative space experts who provided comments. The panel provided educational input for each team in support of that team's further learning, as well as to reinforce the Designing More 'Care' into Healthcare The 2014 AIA/TCP Student Design Charette BY DR. WAYNE RUGA PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS & FIRMS: > Harrington College of Design, hosted by Eckroth Planning Group > Iowa State University, hosted by Legat Architects > School of the Art Institute of Chicago, hosted by CannonDesign > Philadelphia University, hosted by Perkins+Will > Texas A & M University, hosted by VOA Architects Dr. Wayne Ruga, FAIA, FIIDA, Hon. FASID, is founder and president of The CARITAS Project. He can be reached at wruga@post.harvard.edu. The student design charette team from the Art Institute of Chicago begins collaborative design at the Saturday kick-off event. Philadelphia University students, faculty advisor and fi rm host. 18 Medical Construction & Design | JA N UA RY/ F EBRUA RY 2015 | MCDM AG.COM