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From the approach to a hospital entrance, to winding one's way through the interior spaces to facing an examination or sitting in a waiting room, patients and visitors would rather be anywhere else than a hospital. The perception of hospitals is hard to shake — a place of crisis, scary beeping machines, bland decor and cold fl uorescent lighting. But the hospital experience today can be dramatically dif erent than even fi ve years ago in healthcare facilities embracing designs that inspire hope, comfort and confi dence while accentuating the hospital's mission. And lighting is an essential design element infl uencing the staf , patient and visitor's perception of the hospital experience. Lighting the way Wayfi nding at the new Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana begins as soon as one enters the hospital's outdoor plaza. Clear site lines on the interior emerge through its profusion of glass. By breaking down barriers from inside to outside, it is a calmed, ordered ap- proach to the hospital. Once inside, illumination combines with simple and intuitive wayfi nding to guide patients and visitors to their destination. Lighting facilitates interaction Putting the spotlight on comfort and mission Bright Impressions at both information and department desks; a soft dif usion of light is used to ensure facial expressions are clearly visible. This key initial staf and patient/family interac- tion begins the diagnosis process, with the proper lighting helping to determine one's Spotlight healthcare lighting WALL TO WALL Top: Eskenazi elevator lobbies are color coded for wayfi nding and feature softly backlit luminous ceilings to create a neutral design aesthetic for the beautiful wall art. The bubble-like pattern is kinetic and activated by passersby — often curious children. Wall art by PROJECTiONE. Right: Eskenazi's donor wall serves as an area for visual interest and positive distraction, blending with the feature stone wall. BY TOM KACZKOWSKI 16 Medical Construction & Design | M A RCH /A PR IL 2015 | MCDM AG.COM