Designing women tackle Rutledge Tower

by Cindy A. Abole
Public Relations
For most people, eyeing a shade of blue on a wall or carpet might seem elementary. But for the Department of Construction and Design crew of Christine Inabinett, Allyson Yokley and Stephanie Whited, primary blue might yield to indigo, navy or slate blue hues when in a waiting room area, office and clinic within MUSC’s Rutledge Tower. 

“We received nothing but support and encouragement from our boss and everyone on the Rutledge Tower steering committee to do what we’ve done,” said Pam Verdery, manager, Department of Construction and Design which manages design work for the Medical Center through Facilities Management.

 “There was a huge amount of teamwork put into this,” Verdery said.

Inabinett and Yokley collaborated with Greenville architect David Thome and a parade of others assigned to the Rutledge Tower task. Following the 1995 acquirement of St. Francis Hospital by UMA through MUSC’s Health Sciences Foundation, interior design plans began to unfold by late December 1996. 

In selecting art for the many specialty clinics, waiting areas and hallways, the duo choose specific prints and made selections which helped compliment some of the buildings dramatic open spaces. The art, paired with the floor pattern’s geometric designs and functional work environments met the approval of Thome and the Rutledge Tower Steering Committee.

“We knew we had to make changes by setting a precedence with the art and furniture,” said Inabinett. “Our selections had to be transitional reflecting a cross between traditional and contemporary designs.”

The overall results proved refreshing yet functional in the 10-floor adult and pediatric clinical services structure. The group’s careful selection and placement of cheery artwork married to the simple yet functional furniture originates from the second floor crosswalk connecting the Children’s Hospital to the spacious lobby of  the hospital’s Digestive Disease Center inside Rutledge Tower.

Inabinett recalls the artistic challenge of selecting artwork which conforms to an active health care setting. To achieve this, the group contracted the expertise of health care environmental specialists American Art Resources in Houston. Inabinett worked with associate Daniel Day whose firm specializes in art consultation for healthcare facilities and clinics. The firm, whose clients include the Carolinas Hospital System, Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Loma Linda’s Children’s Hospital, follows a design philosophy that reflects function, demographics and their hospital staff members, patients and their families.

Day and his team confirmed preselected art chosen by the MUSC design group. His team followed criteria exploring geographic location, patient demographics and each art piece’s aesthetic value. 

For example, a photo depicting an outdoor nature scene featuring green trees, a flowing stream, and smooth rocks would garner more positive responses if placed within a high-stressed environment like an emergency room. In contrast, the use of some contemporary artwork in patient areas can make people feel uncomfortable. Rutledge uses more traditional contemporary pieces in some non-clinical areas such as main corridors and lobbies. 

“We wanted to recommend art that presents a genuine reflection of the community it serves,” said Day, who defined MUSC’s customer population as being universal, showing a special interest in nature-based images. “We tried to integrate towards more traditional artwork. We were searching for something that flowed from floor to floor.”

“It's the patients who are important to us,” said Kim Duckworth, program manager of special projects, College of Medicine. “It’s important for them to come into a health care environment that’s not scary or anxiety-ridden..”

Patients have responded positively, said Brenda Falls, director of ambulatory care, Administrative Services at Rutledge Tower. “They feel that the colors are both uplifting and refreshing.”
 

The is no cost for the course, but the course book, available through William Boggan, Ph.D., must be purchased at a cost of $15.50 and can be paid with a check or IIT made out to the College of Graduate Studies. 

For more information or to register, call Boggan at 792-5222.