Wayne HealthCare
Design: Trinity: NAC, Jill Woods, Associate Principal
Location: Wayne HealthCare, Greenville, OH
Product & End Use: Maxwell Print + Pike Print | Upholstery
Market: Healthcare
Photography: Brad Feinknopf, OTTO
“We’re getting the look and feel of something that is rich and soft but getting maintenance and the longevity that we would from something non-woven,” - Jill Woods, Associate Principal Trinity: NAC
Design Challenge
Trinity: NAC was tasked with designing a state-of-the-art healthcare facility for Wayne HealthCare in Greenville, Ohio, that reflected high-quality care provided, while maintaining the personal feeling of the community. As the facility required cleanable surfaces that could withstand aggressive sanitization practices, the firm needed to find upholstery fabrics that were durable, but offered a soft and relaxing feel for patients, visitors, and staff alike.
Design Solution
Digitally-printed, silicone-hybrid upholstery fabrics Maxwell Print and Pike Print provided the warm and intimate aesthetic of a woven textile while offering the construction and cleanability required by the Wayne HealthCare facility.
When architecture firm Trinity: NAC began work on a master plan refresh for Wayne HealthCare in Greenville, Ohio, one of their strategic goals was to design the campus that aesthetically reflected the high quality of care that the facility offered its patients. “What people see in a space ultimately impacts how it makes them feel,” says Jill Woods, an Associate Principal at Trinity: NAC. “It also plays a large role in how they perceive the quality of the care they will receive.” From enhancing views to the exterior for staff and patients, creating alcoves for quiet and meditative moments, to selecting finishes that evoke a welcoming, home-like feel, the design team was able to complete a state-of-the-art facility that met the needs of all building inhabitants.
A Balancing Act
When it came to selecting upholstery fabrics, Woods was directed by Wayne HealthCare to only consider non-woven textiles due to strict cleaning protocols. However, in addition to performance and cleanability, it was important that the upholstery selections throughout the space looked welcoming and textile-like. With both sets of criteria in mind, Carnegie’s digitally-printed, silicone-hybrid coated fabrics, Maxwell Print and Pike Print had immediate appeal.
This unique technology involves digital printing onto a polycarbonate polyurethane substrate topped with a silicone coating. The end result? A non-woven fabric that looks convincingly like a woven-textile and meets all criteria for cleanability.
“We’re getting the look and feel of something that is rich and soft but getting maintenance and the longevity that we would from something non-woven,” says Jill.
“Maxwell Print and Pike Print gave us the ability to have a sophisticated, cool pattern on furniture that looked like a woven textile,” shares Jill. “Subconsciously, you perceive that it will be a nice soft material with a home-y feeling—but it will hold up and look pristine for much longer since building maintenance can just wipe it down.”
Ticking All The Boxes
During the process of ensuring compatibility with the cleaning agents and disinfectants used at Wayne HealthCare, Woods leaned on Carnegie’s Design Services team. Our experts were able to cross-check that these products could be cleaned with a range of hospital-grade cleaners and disinfectants including bleach, alcohol, Virex, and CaviWipes.
Maxwell Print was utilized to upholster furniture pieces in a busy lounge area at the hub of the courtyard and connection point to the existing hospital building. The bold pattern offers a signature moment that feels both fresh and welcoming. In the entryway to the Wellness Center, Pike Print is upholstered onto seating to create a comfortable environment.
“Maxwell Print and Pike Print gave us the ability to have a sophisticated, cool pattern on furniture that looked like a woven textile,” shares Jill. “Subconsciously, you perceive that it will be a nice soft material with a home-y feeling—but it will hold up and look pristine for much longer since building maintenance can just wipe it down.”
Trinity: NAC, together with the help of Carnegie’s Technical Services team, was able to complete a design that asked for two seemingly contradictory features—long-lasting and safe upholstery solutions that also delivered on warmth and comfortable aesthetics.