Page 179 - In Pursuit of the Sunbeam.indd

164 In Pursuit of the Sunbeam: A Practical Guide to Transformation from Institution to Household
ENVIRONMENTAL
The Debate Begins Alignment of Vision Engage Partners in Design Move In
Home
ENGAGE PARTNERS IN DESIGN
Anchor Your Vision Before Engaging the Development Team
Now that you are in the mindset of creating home in a literal way, the fundamental design principles that interconnect with the cultural framework of the Household Model must be clear in your mind before engaging your architect for actual design and other development team members. Otherwise, it is common for providers to engage an architect and rely too heavily on the design firm’s vision. Architects often report a “do it for me” culture in provider/designer relationships. This can be, and often is, lethal to a project.
As you contemplate assembling a development team with people outside of your organization, be aware that each player may see him or herself as the centerpiece of the team. They may not be accustomed to being part of a true team effort. It also is not uncommon for development team members to do their individual piece in a silo without clearly understanding the project vision or the efforts of other team members. Combine this with a provider mentality of “do it for me,” and you have a project in trouble. Consequently, you, as the provider, must clearly position yourself to lead the group. (Having a developer or development consultant can make this job easier, but you must ensure the developer/consultant is in total sync with your vision. It is not unusual for a developer’s approach to collide with the non-traditional Household Model.)
Specifically, you are ill advised to rely on the architect’s offering without first clearly articulating your vision. In long-term care, we are famous for being driven by our design and development teams instead of instilling a reciprocal creation partnership into the development process. You need to be the primary source of vision for the architect as well as for the other development team members.
To help prepare for assembling your development team, the next few pages are intended to ground you in the fundamental philosophies, principles and characteristics of the Household Model as it relates to the building. This, along with the Essential Elements and the “Norton-Shields Change Matrix” should ground your organization in the Household Model as you begin engaging the development team.
Rethinking the Role of Place – What Does It Mean To Have A Home?
When the time arrives to engage the development team, articulating your vision will help the design team ensure the physical elements of the project envelop the desired organizational, cultural and operational changes.
“We are famous for being driven by our design and development teams instead of instilling a reciprocal creation partnership.”