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Page 18 — Health Care Properties Quarterly — July 2019 www.crej.com Hospice lic view. The outdoor space also will be used for children for more active, outdoor therapy activities. Wanting these spaces to reflect a “home away from home” perspec- tive, we strove to create a cozy and welcoming environment, with furni- ture and finishes more suggestive of a “living room” than a facility. Understanding the Hospice Employee A career in hospice care is an incredible commitment, and we wanted to recognize that through our design. The men and women who see patients through to the end of their lives do a monumental ser- vice to the patients and their fami- lies. But the achievement and value of the work does not mean that is without stress and fatigue. The emo- tional resilience required day in and day out of these employees is an integral aspect of their work experi- ence that the new addition sought to recognize. In conversation with our user group of hospice employees dur- ing the design process, we came to understand the importance of a space where these employees could meaningfully retreat from the emo- tional burden of their work. This space had to be more than the typi- cal “break room,” as these employees are do work that can hardly be con- sidered typical. This was the genesis of the employee lounge, which we developed as an “oasis” within the surrounding building, a place where employees will be able to take a moment to recharge. The “oasis” will provide various soft seating options, along with a color scheme and interior finishes that make it distinct from the build- ing’s office and patient areas. The lounge also will incorporate a work area for those looking to work in a more secluded setting. The “oasis” is just one element of a broader plan to rethink the working environment for hospice employees, which will extend to a greater variety of work and collaboration spaces. The “oasis” also will give employees access to a 750-sf outdoor deck, allowing them to have a secluded moment outside. The design process for this proj- ect was rooted in active listening, engaging with our empathy for the users of this space and our under- standing of the challenges and stressors they encounter every day. This attitude is essential in any health care project but has proven especially important in the case of a hospice project, collaborating with building users who wrestle with death every day. s Continued from Page 1 The Footprints space for children and family counseling 60,000-square-foot, Class A medical office development. Prior to closing, we met informally with city staff and were pleasantly surprised with their answers related to zoning, permits, plan review, impact fees and admin- istrative process. What a difference from what we’re used to in an area of the country more known for back- room deals, red tape and bureau- cracy. Denver is not without its problems – runaway housing prices, traffic congestion (which I just experienced firsthand), substance abuse and her- oin-related fatalities, homelessness and an increased crime rate, how- ever, the city and state government, bolstered by a $1.2 billion budget surplus, certainly has the resources in place to combat these problems. Colorado has a bright future ahead of it, and it is not just because you get 300 days of sunshine a year! s Boyajian Continued from Page 13 The 60,000-square-foot medical office building is set to break ground this year.