By Lisa Anderson, social media manager, Huntsman Cancer Institute
Nestled right against the foothills and sheltered from traffic and noise, the patient patio at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) provides a peaceful atmosphere and beautiful views for patients, their loved ones and staff. But Jan Byrne, ovarian cancer survivor and professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, felt it could be even better.
“I have talked with Shelley White (manager of the Linda B. and Robert B. Wiggins Wellness and Integrative Health Center at HCI) for a long time about how it would be really nice to have something like a labyrinth out here not only for patients, but for their caregivers, people who visited them, even staff, to come out and walk,” she says.
“Labyrinth is a very ancient tradition,” Byrne explains. “It’s something that has a lot of spiritual meaning for some people. It’s a very emotional experience to walk a labyrinth.”
The Wellness and Integrative Health Center took her up on her suggestion and went even further with the idea of adding a pergola and wind feature to the patio. To help design these features, they are looking to the community. U faculty and staff, along with HCI patients and loved ones, are invited to submit design ideas and inspiration for the labyrinth, pergola and wind feature.
The Wellness and Integrative Health Center is looking for designs that are therapeutic, relaxing, healing, patient-accessible and ecologically friendly. Students from the U College of Architecture and Planning will take the winning designs and work with Architectural Nexus to formulate official plans, determine materials and install the new patio features.
- Design ideas are due by Dec. 31, 2015.
- Submissions will be reviewed by a committee and final selections made in April 2016.
If your design idea is selected for a patio feature, your name will be included on a commemorative plaque and you will be invited to attend a dedication event.
Watch this video to learn more about the contest or email designcontest@hci.utah.edu with any questions.