Michael W. Folonis, FAIA presented a webinar on the award winning project: UCLA Outpatient Surgery and Cancer Center. He shared the planning concepts, methods for achieving healing environments, and patient experience-enhancing features that made the project a design award recipient. John Kreidich of McCarthy Building Companies was the moderator for the webinar. The webinar attendees learned the key planning concepts for ambulatory surgery centers and cancer care centers, understand ways to incorporate nature and natural light to create a healing environment, and gain an understanding of principles of a patient-focused environment. The webinar was on December 13, 2016 and was sponsored by the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH).
1415 Fifth Street and Lincoln Collection published in The Architect's Newspaper
Michael W. Folonis Architects' 1415 Fifth Street and Lincoln Collection projects were published in Issue 3 July 27, 2016 of The Architect's Newspaper. The article was written by Antonio Pacheco. Pacheco describes the two project as "[pushing] the envelope in terms of urban program and form." 1415 Fifth Street is an 84-foot tall mixed-use building with 64 units and Lincoln Collection is a 90-unit mixed-use complex featuring 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. Michael W. Folonis stated "We thought we were going to have a huge fight on our hands, but [city officials] were very enthusiastic about it and encouraged us," about the 1415 Fifth Street project. These two projects, 1415 Fifth Street and Lincoln Collection, are among the first to make their way since the Metro Expo Rail station has opened.
1415 Fifth Street published in The West Architect's Newspaper
The 1415 Fifth Street project being designed by Michael W. Folonis Architects was published in Issue 4 June 29, 2016 of The West Architect's Newspaper. The article was written by Michael Franklin Ross. 1415 Fifth Street is a six-story complex with 64 units, 13 of which are affordable, and it includes a mix of studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units. Michael W. Folonis Architects designed a major three-story open portal to allow natural light and ventilation to flow into a central courtyard that is open to the sky as an alternative solution for height setbacks. 1415 Fifth Street is a mixed-use building that is just two blocks from the new Metro Light Rail station and all units benefit from natural ventilation, reducing the use of mechanical ventilation. The project is expected to break ground later this and will be completed in 2017.
UCLA Surgery Center published in Specialized Hospitals Design & Planning Book
The UCLA Outpatient Surgery and Oncology Center has been published in the book titled "Specialized Hospitals Design & Planning." The book is published by Design Media Publishing and was edited by Rebel Roberts. The UCLA Outpatient Surgery and Oncology Center is located in Santa Monica, CA and was designed by Michael W. Folonis Architects in 2012. The Surgery Center has a gross area of about 45,000 square feet and is a three-story building that links two distinct wings via a central, full-height, expansive and light-filled lobby.
"Specialized Hospitals Design & Planning" discusses the consideration for designers of modern healthcare facilities in providing a clean and efficient health environment, because the patients' health, safety, and emotions do not depend on the staff's professional skills only. The environment of a hospital also has its healing benefits, which has won more recognition nowadays. A specialized hospital focus on one medical discipline, and thus for its space design, one must carefully consider the specialized medical and procedure model , and the patients' special requirements. Included in the book are children's hospitals, women's hospitals, cancer centers and mental health hospitals. The book presents these hospitals as "artworks," which provide healing functions, created by architects, interior designers, artists, and healthcare staff together.
Michael W. Folonis Architects wins 2016 AIA|LA Residential Architecture Award
Michael W. Folonis Architects won the 2016 AIA|LA Residential Architecture Award in the category of Renovations/Restorations for the John Entenza Residence. The residence was Entenza's home from 1937 to 1949. John Entenza, served for thirty-seven years as editor of Arts & Architecture Magazine, and later as director of the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts. Entenza authored the Case Study House Program. Entenza commissioned architect Harwell Hamilton Harris to design his 850 square foot home. The restoration and renovation was done with a sensitive eye in preserving the rich architectural and historical character of the home.
The AIA Residential Architecture Award celebrates excellence in contemporary residential design at all scales and variations. Southern California has always been a dynamic global incubator for dazzling residential architecture. The AIA|LA Residential Architecture Awards (RAA) were founded, in part, to highlight the area’s contemporary contributions to the typology. Celebrating a multiplicity of approaches, the RAAs recognize both simply beautiful design and projects that offer the innovative or edgy as they address new urban and environmental conditions.