The 24-hour design charette included five other designers from Philadelphia and I set up shop in the Hotel Monaco in downtown Philadelphia along with a product designer and several other Mannington representatives. Each designer was given a digital camera and three hours to explore their city for inspiration. The team decided to split up into six groups in order to better capture the wide range of neighborhoods represented in Philadelphia.

What was amazing about the process is that you started to look at the city from a different perspective, no longer hindered by having an agenda, a meeting to prep for, a train to catch or an errand to run during lunch. I chose to explore South Philadelphia, so I wandered around the Navy Yard for a while before turning my attention to the Italian market. When we all reconvened, we printed our images and started the process of weeding through each photo to get to the common threads woven throughout our tours to different corners of the city.

Working with the other designers was truly a privilege. We all immediately honed in on the same ideas and became a cohesive design unit, surprisingly since we all came from different design backgrounds ranging from higher education to corporate to health care. This further instilled for me the notion that design has become less about each sector and more about the feeling that a space can evoke.

Once we had refined our imagery, several themes began to take focus. The first was the beauty and texture found in decay. Buildings, ships and stone all had this in common. Philadelphia truly embraces the old and worn and celebrates history. The second theme was layering and the idea of order versus chaos. The third theme, circles, was inspired immediately from the cycling culture of the city. Once our themes were refined, we began to work on broad color themes. The Mannington product designer worked closely with us throughout all stages of this process to make sure we understood the logistics of the process as well as what would make a commercial carpet. It was then in her hands to take our vision and bring it to reality. About a month after the event, the entire group was able to reassemble along with the product designer to review her designs and provide feedback before they start production on physical samples. Seeing your ideas come to life through someone else’s eyes is an incredible experience.

So often we get caught up in the demands of deadlines and everyday pressure and forget how and why we do what we do and how to truly get inspired. One of my fellow designers said it perfectly, “I went into work this morning feeling renewed and inspired. Sometimes in our day-to-day work, we lose track of what got us here in the first place – our creative spirits. This weekend was a wonderful reminder of just how magical the creative experience can be and how grateful I am for the opportunity I have to live in such a special city.” It really was an amazing opportunity to learn and be part of the new product development stages.

This experience has taught all of us a lot. Mannington has been incredible in keeping us all involved in the development of our designs. The designs will be selected to launch as part of a collection at the annual NeoCon Conference to be held June 9-11 in Chicago.

Nicole Wood, RID, NCIDQ, LEED AP, is a senior health care interior designer with Array Architects. She is currently collaborating on interior spaces for hospitals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Florida.

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The 272,000-square-foot building will primarily house outpatient medical facilities for Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC), but will also feature retail space on the ground level, along with lab and office space for start-ups. Philly.com recently reported a similar structure right next door found great success in quickly populating itself with start-up companies upon its completion in 2010. PPMC CEO Michele Volpe commented that, “This expansion will provide PPMC faculty and staff with the infrastructure necessary to better serve the Powelton Avenue, West Philadelphia, and even the Greater Philadelphia communities. Since PPMC was founded in 1871, it has proved to be a leader in providing top-quality patient care. Our new building will only further reinforce our commitments to excellence, our patients and our community.”

The project features the work of West Coast architectural firm Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects and Philadelphia-based UJMN Architects + Designers, and aims to achieve LEED Silver certification.

Penn Presbyterian will take up around 155,000 square feet for outpatient and orthopedic services. In addition, Good Shepherd Penn Partners, which specializes in physical therapy and rehabilitation, will take up about a floor and a half. The remaining 88,000 square feet will be used to advance the Science Center’s mission of feeding tech innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development. Penn Presbyterian is known for creating one of the first coronary care units in the nation, and is now considered a leader in new techniques of minimally invasive surgery, including robotic-assisted procedures.

“We are delighted that we’ll be celebrating the Science Center’s 50th anniversary in 2013 with construction cranes on our campus. It sends a positive message about the economic recovery, job creation and the desirability of University City as an innovation center,” UCSC President Stephen S. Tang commented. “Penn Presbyterian’s expansion onto the Science Center campus strengthens University City’s unparalleled reputation as an Eds and Meds hub.”

Added James R. Berens, chairman, Wexford Science + Technology, “We are very excited to continue our partnership with the Science Center with the development of 3737 Market. The project, as a mix of clinical, research and office uses, is a perfect match to the Science Center’s mission and Wexford’s capabilities and is a great opportunity to cultivate University City and Philadelphia’s innovation cluster."

Construction will begin on the project in September, with completion targeted for June of 2014.

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The Voice provides young patients in hospitals with an outlet to engage in activities related to radio, television and new media, ranging from broadcasting like a disc jockey to watching live artists perform and interviewing celebrities.

The initiative aims to “contribute positively to the healing process for children and their families during their stay by developing these centers to bring an uplifting spirit to the hospital community,” according to a statement by the organization.

“Throughout my 20-year career in the entertainment business, I’ve toured many hospitals and have consistently been amazed by the courage of children and their families in light of the hardships they face,” said Ryan Seacrest, who recently launched the nonprofit organization that works to enhance the quality of life of seriously ill and injured children through programs that utilize multimedia and interactive platforms.

“Recognized as one of the best children’s hospitals in the country, I am thrilled to bring our program to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,” Seacrest said. “Not only is The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia leading pediatric clinical and research innovation, it is a national leader in developing techniques to support the patient’s emotional well-being. The Voice will be a new addition to their existing Child-Life programs and will provide a lively form of interactive entertainment.”

Scheduled to open this summer, The Voice will be located in the Main Hospital’s Colket Atrium and will involve students from local journalism schools, colleges and universities to provide an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in broadcasting, programming and operating a multimedia center.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first pediatric hospital. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking third in National Institutes of Health funding. The 516-bed hospital has been recognized as a leading advocate for children and adolescents.

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