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30 Medical Construction & Design | M AY/ J U N E 2017 | MCDM AG.COM Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm. Hospitals that commit to the Healthier Hospitals Interiors Goal agree to ensure that 30 percent of the annual volume of their furnishings and furniture purchases (based on cost) from participating companies eliminate the use of fi ve chemicals and materials: fl ame retardants, PFCs, antimicrobials, PVCs and formaldehyde. A complete list of participating companies can be found at healthierhospitals.org/ hhi-challenges. The demands on upholstery products used in healthcare environments continue to grow as more is required from their performance with continued expectations of environmental responsibility, while also providing value-priced options. Moreover, many health organizations no longer allow the specifi cation of vinyl upholsteries and will not accept products with phthalates, PVCs and fi re retardants. New options with textiles While germ control, durability and price remain high on the list of upholstery requirements, impactful design can be added to the list. The use and integration of man-made fi bers, dyes, impermeable products, printing, embossing and fi nish- ing methods being developed open up a new world of design potential. We have evolved from the days of shiny, uncomfortable vinyl-covered seats to impermeable products, such as polyurethane and silicone that provide color variety; soft, leather-like hand and surface fi nishing techniques that incorporate matte fi nishes and softly embossed textures. All this technology brings non-woven upholstery that much closer to the look and feel of leather and printed-woven textiles. Although not all healthcare organizations require that upholstery be cleaned with bleach, the wide variety of products available in this category is exciting. The trend includes fabrics with clear colors, rich textures and a hand-made artisan look and feel. What is even more exciting is that this design trend is more global — incorporating a variety of cultural infl uences. There is also a greater connection with the natural world through the look of natural materials. All told, these textiles exhibit rich, nubby texture, bold larger-scale patterns and small-scale printed products that have the look and feel of a more expensive woven fi nish. All bring a dynamic, uplifting and sophisticated aesthetic to healthcare upholsteries. As more attention is paid to the health- care patient and client experience, techni- cal advancements and design benchmarks will provide even greater opportunity and variety to make a signifi cant diff er- ence in each and every touchpoint. It is an innovative and exciting time for health- care interior design as more unique and diverse fabric and furniture options come to market, with the best yet to come. Erica Steenstra is director of environments at Taylor Design. The UCSF Ambulatory Care Center Fifth Floor Heart & Vascular Clinic offers outpatient care and testing, and an array of medical procedures. The staff lounge, later dubbed "the treehouse," was placed in a window-fi lled corner room nestled in the lush trees and landscaping outside. Demands on upholstery products used in healthcare environments continue to grow as more is required from their performance with continued expectations of environmental responsibility, while also providing value- priced options. INTERIORS ISSUE FOCUS 22 Multidisciplinary experts created the Evidence-Based Design Furniture Checklist — healthdesign.org 30% Annual volume of furnishings and furniture purchases (based on cost) that eliminate the use of VOCs — Healthier Hospitals' Healthy Interiors goal requirement