September 12, 2008

As America’s elderly population grows, we need solutions to senior citizens’ special needs to make their lives healthier, more enjoyable and productive. Our Interior Design Program is in the middle of an extensive project exploring these seniors’ special needs. On September 4th we’ll announce the two teams of student finalists chosen after a term-length investigation of design challenges at senior care facilities. The winning teams’ designs will be constructed at the Philadelphia Convention Center this October as part of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) annual conference. Also, on the evening of September 4th,  Daniel J. Cinelli and Joseph Hassell, principals of the prestigious Chicago design firm Perkins Eastman, with a strong interest in senior living communities, will present a lecture entitled ‘Trends for the New Consumer, Future Senior Living’ at 6 PM in Ruth Auditorium, Nesbitt Hall.

‘Alternate Environments,’ an Interior Design course taught by Henry Vega from the Ballinger firm, provided students with site visits and consultations with industry professionals to help them with their room designs. Perkins Eastman has been instrumental in our participation in this project and in addition to Mr. Cinelli and Mr. Hassell’s lecture, the firm is providing additional industry professionals to judge our students’ design concepts The winning designs will be constructed at the AAHSA conference, October 13-15, and Film & Video students will be on hand to capture all the action for a live webcast, distributed on AAHSA’s web site. At the end of the conference, one room will be selected by conference attendees and a cash prize of $1000 cash prize will be awarded.

Perkins Eastman is an award-winning design firm with 10 domestic and international offices. The lecture, which is sponsored by our Interior Design Program, will be in Ruth Auditorium at 6 PM on Thursday, September 4.  A reception will precede the lecture at 5 PM in Nesbitt Hall.

DETAILS:

• Interior Design lecture ‘Trends for the New Consumer, Future Senior Living’
• Daniel J. Cinelli & Joseph Hassel, Perkins Eastman
• Thursday, September, 4 PM
• Ruth Auditorium, Nesbitt Hall (3215 Market St)
• FREE
• More information call 215-895-2071