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Meet Nathan Banker who has been with Synthesis for nearly three years. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Ball State University and is currently working on his Master's. As a project designer, Nathan specializes in the 3D graphic interpretation of design by introducing mixed media into a project during its design phases to help a client understand a space. He is artistically talented and brings a wealth of design and detail in each concept he creates. What is the most rewarding part about being a project designer and why? The design process of a project designer highlights the fun parts of school with the reality that it will get built...usually. Realizing that what you create will be part of the physical world is a special experience regardless of its size, purpose, or scope. What do you enjoy doing on your free time? I used to be so cool, riding race bikes through the country, running before dawn, even swim in open water lakes surrounded by the early morning fog. I spend most of my time now cleaning up the trail of toys and slobber left by my eight-month-old. ​​ What is the best professional advice you’ve ever received? Don't be limited to what you haven't seen yet. It always stuck with me, thinking that there are no more original ideas was a crazy way to limit my ideas and concepts. We are always changing and evolving into what we, as a society, need. So, let's make something crazy and have fun with it! What have you gained from working at Synthesis? Working at Synthesis has taught me how to really hone in on a detailed scale. Anyone can get a set of drawings prepared, but really appreciating the details brings out a beauty that few architects get to experience these days. How would you define your design style? My design style can be best described as gravity / physics defying. Why be limited by reality when you can come up with something impossible. That's what construction documentation is for! #Synthians

The quality of our environment effects how we live and thrive within it. Healthcare environments administer care, physically and emotionally. At Synthesis we understand that our environment can influence how our bodies heal and respond emotionally. Many elements affect how our bodies react to an environment: sense of scale, air quality, environmental control, viewpoints, and color. Color influences how we feel and set a mood and provide direction. We relate color to places we have been and things we have seen. On a warm summer day, it’s more comfortable to be in a soft cyan and green room reminiscent of water, as opposed to a red and orange one reminding us of fire. Throughout design development, Synthesis researches how color could impact our clients. We evaluate common connotations associated with particular colors and optimal colors that will best achieve design objectives. Recently Synthesis completed a linear accelerator renovation project. A linear accelerator treats cancer patients, which can be a very intimidating space due to the massive equipment surrounding a patient. Our design team chose to offset the clinical atmosphere by incorporating color into the ceiling and accents around the room. We purposefully avoided vibrant orange and red hues, as these can promote more anxiety. As blue and green hues are proven to relieve stress and promote harmony. We incorporated predominately blues and greens in an opaque back-lit ceiling panels, designed by Vara Kamin. The linear accelerator space utilizes color to promote healing and harmony. Synthesis thoughtfully approaches every project in the same manner, addressing color and how color can best enhance our clients’ interior spaces. For further reading on color and emotions, in a healing environment, check out this link: www.cbpofarizonainc.com/healthcare-healing-colors/

In our recent blog post, Phenomics: Challenging New Technologies to Solve a World Wide Issue, we asked you to view the world-population meter and ask yourself how do we feed all of these people? An amazing statistic is that more food must be produced in the next fifty years than has been produced in the last 10,000 years combined to sustain this vast population. We talked about Phenomics and studying the physical and biochemical attributes in Plants. This article, Fully Enabling Genome-Editing System for Crop Improvement Launched, discusses modernizing "our food system with simpler ingredients and production methods focused on plant-based proteins and ancient grains, natural disease resistance, and other targets that create more choice for both farmers and consumers.” This system uses “predictive analytics” in a cloud based format that “grows smarter” each time data is entered.

Performing a Building Assessment is the key to gathering accurate facility conditions information and cost data, which will result in a comprehensive report. This report is used to decide what investments should be made in facility improvements and will provide a carefully constructed action plan for moving forward. There are five different types of Building Assessments that will give you the critical information needed. Building Condition Assessment Cataloging existing conditions including all major building components and preparing a risk assessment and action plan Code Assessment Evaluating the adherence to building codes related to life safety Functional Assessment Evaluate the current functional program of the building and compare against current and forecasted trends Building Envelope Assessment Evaluate the complete exterior of a building, compile an action plan and cost estimates Historical Building Assessment Prepare a comprehensive assessment which includes the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the preservation of National Landmark status buildings Any analysis of a building must be based on accurate and objective data. This includes understanding the facility’s original intent, current conditions, remediation cost, functional adequacy, and future use. Without this information, it would be impossible for building owners and facility managers to decide whether their building is worth the investment required to keep it useable. The architects at Synthesis Incorporated have been completing technical building assessments for 20 years. They understand the importance of this step to develop a substantive plan that institutional leaders can incorporate into their capital budgets. #CodeAssessment #HistoricalPreservation

Congratulations to Nathan Banker, Project Designer (left) and Martin Sams, AIA, RA, NCARB, LEED BD+C (right) at Synthesis for being this quarter's Fire Starter Award recipients. Client relationships are something that we at Synthesis prides ourselves on. We say over and over that gaining a client’s trust, listening to and having a clear understanding of their needs, and providing them with solutions to those needs are what we do well, and Martin and Nathan have done just that. Nathan and Martin both exemplify great teamwork. This not only results in increased productivity, but also a new (and now, repeat) client. About the Fire Starter Award This award is Synthesis Incorporated’s quarterly honor given to a project team or individual within the firm for exemplifying outstanding work on a project or within the office. Based on employee nominations, the Leadership Team selects the winning recipient or team to receive the award. Criteria for this prestigious award includes performance that goes above and beyond normal expectations as it relates to the following criteria: • Outstanding project performance • Exceeding client service expectations • Extraordinary team work resulting in increased productivity and morale • Exceptionally innovative/creative design • Creativity in new and innovative methods and procedures • Outstanding financial/schedule/quality performance Thank you, Nathan and Martin, and congratulations! #FirestarterAward

On this day in 1998, Synthesis Incorporated opened for business. What started out as an office in a two-room space located in a refurbished school house has evolved into a successful design studio that has earned numerous design awards and has an annual capacity of $200 M. Synthesis Incorporated, an architectural firm located in downtown Indianapolis, provides architectural, interior design, and visioning for civic, healthcare, higher education, historic preservation, institutional, life sciences, retail, and senior living markets. Our ideation approach synthesizes research, analysis of existing program/facilities and day-in-the-life atmospherics to author your vision. Immersed in our client’s organization and culture, we question and collaborate to better understand their necessities, wishes, and goals. The result is a vision that inspires, motivates, and evokes a holistic response. Our role encompasses more than simply understanding how buildings, spaces and sites relate to one another, it’s about making people lives better. Our clients have come to count on Synthesis. Their success is our success. Our partnership approach and collaborative philosophy contributes greatly to the fact that more than 90% of Synthesis’ current project list is generated by repeat clients. Some of our past notable projects, include the Eskenazi Outpatient Care Center, Juan Soloman Park, INDOT Ft. Wayne Administration Building, IUPUI School of Nursing, Sure-Tech Laboratories, GM Stamping Plant Land Use Plan, 16 Tech Visioning, and the nearly complete Purdue University Controlled Environment Phenotyping Facility. This will be one of the first facilities in the country capable of imaging full height corn for research. Eskenazi Outpatient Care Center Juan Solomon Park INDOT Ft. Wayne Administration Building We would like to thank each of our colleagues, clients and friends who have helped make the last 19 years a success. We look forward to sharing our upcoming 20th anniversary together and all that the future has in store. At 19, we are just getting started!

In our past blogs, we have been discussing large equipment replacement projects and the benefits of integrating your Design Team early in the decision-making process. Large equipment types such MRIs, CT, or Linear Accelerators (LINACs) are not as easy as remove and replace. Changing manufacturers very likely means changing your existing infrastructure, and possibly the built environment around the equipment, and that isn’t a quick fix. Simply upgrading your equipment with the manufacturer that you currently have can mean costly modifications. Not only should you consider the requirements of the new system and providing for its new operational needs, you must also consider getting your old system out of your building successfully. This is called the “rig path” and you should evaluate this entire path from the procedure room to the exterior door, and review obstacles within that path, all corners and turns, and all door widths. Changing equipment can mean a change in the base frame and plate, which means possible concrete removal and replacement. LINAC facilities typically have floors of 3’- 4’ in thickness and walls of 2’- 3’. Core drilling any of these is not inexpensive, so proper evaluations should be made by your Design Team early in the process. Other equipment considerations would include: Floor space: is the equipment the same size and operation in the same manner, i.e. rotation of unit or placement of patient to machine? Conduit access and run length: newer equipment has different power and data requirements than older models. The current conduits and paths for such might exceed the limits of the new cabling and core drilling might be required. Shielding: we see many instances of existing room shielding being inadequate for new equipment. Modifications of vault doors, especially the replacement of vault doors in procedure rooms, can run in the tens of thousands of dollars. As noted above, confirm new equipment can access through vault and make any existing turns. Typically, equipment has existing mounting / floor plates. Changes in size or location of these can mean costly concrete removal and installation. New models will most certainly have different, and sometimes greater, electrical and data requirements. Not only should conduit lengths be evaluated, but also electrical panels and data closets. Storage for supplies should be determined, as new units typically require different methods used for patient positioning and comfort during procedures. Existing casework and storage may not meet those storage needs and will need to be removed and replaced. We encourage Facility decision makers to engage an experienced team, such as the Synthesis, Applied Engineering, and Pepper Construction Team, early in the decision-making process to ensure that an adequate budget has been established to cover potential costs for infrastructure modifications and that a realistic schedule is established for construction and equipment installation and validation. Contact us for more information on how we can assist you with your next medical equipment replacement project.

In our previous blog, Considerations for Medical Equipment Replacement: Time is Money!, we discussed including a Design and Construction Team in your planning strategy for replacing large equipment such as MRI’s, CT’s, and Linear Accelerators (LINACs). Large equipment types such as these are not as easy as remove and replace. Changing manufacturers, or even just upgrading with the manufacturer that you currently have, can mean changing your existing infrastructure and that isn’t a quick, or inexpensive, fix. Vendors can’t always speak to the overall costs associated with an equipment replacement. Only to the cost of replacing the equipment itself. There are many design considerations, from an architectural and engineering perspective to a construction perspective, that a facility must understand when negotiating a new piece of equipment and, possibly more importantly, when establishing a budget for the total project cost of replacing the equipment. Historically, we have seen inadequate time and money allowed for such projects. We encourage facility decision makers to engage an experienced team early in the decision-making process to ensure that an adequate budget has been established to cover potential costs for infrastructure modifications and that a realistic schedule is established for construction and equipment installation and validation. This will result in a clearer expectation of when patient scheduling can be resumed, thus allowing revenue to flow again. In our next blog, we will cover some of the items that should be considered, discussed, and included in your next equipment replacement project. Contact us for more information on how we can assist you with your next medical equipment replacement project.

Typically, equipment has been identified by a Facility’s Asset Management team for replacement. Several factors are reviewed when determining if and when equipment should be replaced. Safety, age of the equipment, costs to service, parts available to service the equipment, evolution of the technology of the equipment, and patient and organizational demand for the equipment are several criteria that come into consideration. While smaller equipment such as an X-Ray machine or a surgical table can be as easy as remove and replace, larger equipment, such as CT scanners, MRI’s, and linear accelerators, require extensive planning for both the removal and the replacement process. Once this decision has been made to replace, a strategic plan must be determined to minimize the down time for the equipment, and thus minimizing the loss of revenue for a facility. This planning strategy should include a Design and Construction Team of architects, engineers, and a general contractor for the best results for your project. Many times, modifications to the existing room and/ or adjacent spaces is required to support the new equipment and new associated technologies. These costs must be accounted for in a facility’s overall budget for equipment replacement. Synthesis Incorporated, along with Applied Engineering and Pepper Construction have a history of collaboration on such projects. Having designed and constructed several Linear Accelerator replacement projects just in the last few months, our team can assist you in understanding the impact, time required, and budget for replacing your medical equipment. Equipment down time is lost revenue for a facility. So having the proper team on board from the beginning is critical to your bottom line. Contact us for more information on how we can assist you with your medical equipment replacement project.

Maria has been with Synthesis for four years. She is the voice and face of Synthesis and manages the ad hoc tasks for the architectural studio. She's an integral part of our team on a daily basis and an indispensable part of the office. What is the most rewarding part of working at Synthesis? It’s rewarding to be an integral part of the team. The City of Rensselaer Fire Station was one of the first projects I worked on from (signed contract) design development through Construction Administration. Seeing the finished design/building/space and knowing that I shared in that process. What do you enjoy doing on your free time? Spending time with mi familia is at the top of my list, especially with my grandchildren. I also enjoy swimming, riding my Harley on good weather days and traveling with my husband. What is the best professional advice you’ve ever received? Don’t judge someone by the opinion of another. What have you gained from working at Synthesis? I’ve come to understand the Construction Administration portion/process of a project and the importance of communication amongst Owner, Architect, and Contractor. I’m thankful for the group of individuals here at Synthesis that have shared their knowledge of the industry. There’s always something new to learn. How do you define success? Finishing well. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 #Synthians

Ransom Place Neighborhood Association received the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) Inspiring Places award at the Neighbor Power Indy event. Ransom Place Neighborhood Association, Inc., was awarded a greenspace grant from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) and Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL) to transform a small, triangular grassy lot it owned into an outdoor classroom for all of Indianapolis. Residents met with Synthesis Incorporated, KIB and IPL over a period of six months to craft an appropriate design. With residents eventually deciding historic images of area residents and structures was the best way to engage the public, the park features a small raised deck, seating for events, and a decorative rosetta of commemorative bricks. A dedication ceremony was held on June 17, 2016. The park is now a gateway along the Cultural Trail to help expose the public to the civic value of the area’s African-American heritage and provide a place for community events. LR: Dr. Lisa E. Harris, MD, CEO at Eskenazi Hospital, Diana Barrera Furbeck, Paula Brooks, Ransom Place Neighborhood Association President Photo by Cheria Caldwell #NPI17 @NeighborPower17 History of Ransom Place Ransom Place is the oldest African-American neighborhood in Indianapolis. It was established in 1897 and had consisted originally of about four dozen houses located on six blocks. The neighborhood was redeveloped by committed residents in 1945 when it received a boost from the newly formed Indianapolis Redevelopment Commission. This then inspired the formation of the National Association from African-American Heritage Preservation to promote the recognition of historically black communities in other cities. Currently, Ransom Place is the most intact 19th century neighborhood associated with African-Americans in Indianapolis. The neighborhood was named after Freeman B. Ransom who lived from 1882 to 1947. He was an attorney and general manager of the Walker Manufacturing Company, a cosmetics firm founded by Madam C.J. Walker. The area was once a thriving community for African Americans and included both their homes and businesses. Original construction began in Ransom Place around 1887 with one block being completely built out that year and continuing on through 1920. However, almost immediately the demographics of the neighborhood began to change. From 190 to 1920, the population of Ransom Place changed from an 86-percent white majority to a 96-percent African-American majority. The city council passed a short-lived ordinance in March 1926 upholding residential segregation. It was later deemed unconstitutional and was repealed in November 1926. Ironically, the loosening of racial discrimination after the 1950’s had the effect of undermining Indiana Avenue businesses when options of African-Americans expanded beyond that district. Construction of homes at Ransom Place continued until about 1950 when the area finally became fully developed. It was during this period of time in the 1950’s that the overall neighborhood began to decline and the Ransom Place properties started to deteriorate. At this time, some of the homes fell into disrepair, become vacant and then were razed. In the 1960’s, Indiana University and Purdue University started purchasing land in order to establish a downtown campus. IUPUI, in coordination with the City of Indianapolis, systematically acquired nearly 1,000 properties from the 1960’s into the early 1980’s. The expansion of the IUPUI campus and other commercial development continued to grow and surround the Ransom Place neighborhood. In 1970, a proposal was made to establish the position of Vice Chancellor of Community Development at IUPUI to help smooth the growing tensions between IUPUI and the surrounding neighborhoods; however, this did not happen for several decades. Ransom Place began a period of revitalization when Jean Spears decided to sell her home in Lockerbie Square and move into 849 Camp Street in 1987. Jean Spears had been active in preservation since the 1970’s and took a new challenge in Ransom Place. Spears and others selected the name Ransom Place from Made C.J. Walker’s, General Manager, Freeman B. Ransom, as a wire to inspire upwardly mobile African-Americans. On August 4, 1991, Spears and four other residents comprised a Board of Directors and were incorporated by the State of Indiana as the Ransom Place Neighborhood Association, Inc. The Ransom Place Historic District was certified by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and was listed on the National Register of Historic Place on December 10, 1998. To learn more about the Ransom Place Neighborhood, click here: ransomplaceindy.org #Awards

Congratulations to Ryan Mills, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, CDT, Project Architect at Synthesis for being this quarter's Fire Starter Award recipient. Since obtaining his license last year, Ryan has come into his own as a Project Architect. He has become a wealth of knowledge for code-related questions and has created numerous, easy to understand graphics which help explain multi-layered life safety issues for our clients. Internally, Ryan has been instrumental in the studio by developing ways that our software programs can do more of the work for us. Ryan’s knowledge, professionalism, and eagerness to learn has proven to be essential to the Synthesis team and to the projects that he is a part of. About the Fire Starter Award This award is Synthesis Incorporated’s quarterly honor given to a project team or individual within the firm for exemplifying outstanding work on a project or within the office. Based on employee nominations, the Leadership Team selects the winning recipient or team to receive the award. Criteria for this prestigious award includes performance that goes above and beyond normal expectations as it relates to the following criteria: • Outstanding project performance • Exceeding client service expectations • Extraordinary team work resulting in increased productivity and morale • Exceptionally innovative/creative design • Creativity in new and innovative methods and procedures • Outstanding financial/schedule/quality performance Thank you, Ryan and congratulations! #FirestarterAward