In our first “in conversation with…,” Russell James, talks to Mel Jacobsen Cox, Head of Healthcare at HLM Architects about her experience as a Healthcare Architect and what it’s like to work with Specialist Door Solutions.
Russell: Mel, thanks for agreeing to talk to us today. Can you tell us a little about your background as a Healthcare Architect?
Mel: I have been working in the healthcare industry for about 15 years. I came from the further education and residential background initially. I started working on Macmillan Cancer and Information centres, so it was quite a soft start to healthcare, but absolutely loved it. For me it has always been a really worthwhile application of architecture. I love the fact that I can really make a positive impact on people’s lives and am fortunate and grateful to have worked with some amazing people over the years.
Russell: You previously specified Specialist Door Solutions (SDS) on projects across the country, could you tell me what made you choose SDS?
Mel: They are a superior product. Really you do not want anything other than a PVC fully encapsulated door in a healthcare environment. The durability is superior, the robustness is phenomenal, nothing else deals with a trolley being bashed into it quite as well as your doors do. You do a fantastic range of colours so that you can really enhance the environment and you have great products that interface with your doors such as your vision panels and now your ironmongery as well. All integrated so it is a one stop shop for everything you could possibly want in a healthcare environment.
Russell: SDS products can be found on NBS source and NMS Chorus. We’ve a full complement of BIM models, Revit and accompanying datasheets and install instructions, why is this key to you as a specifier?
Mel: Having a healthcare standard spec is incredibly important. We know there is a lot of standardisation and repeatable elements within a healthcare environment and estate, so really, we want to be able to draw on these standardised components very quickly. Having it already loaded into an NBS spec or Revit model is brilliant as it aids our efficiency as we can very quickly pull together designs that are compliant. We know that we are going to meet the users’ expectations and it allows us to have time then to spend on the more difficult aspects of the design. Having a really good library of BIM and specification tools at our fingertips is essential for us to be efficient good designers.
Russell: So, all SDS’s doorsets come as complete tested doorsets under third party fire certification that is including the door, frame, and ironmongery as a complete set. Why is it so important to you as a specifier?
Mel: we have all probably come a cropper in the past with using assembled components. You can fall down a rabbit hole quite quickly if you are using ironmongery from another manufacturer that is then site installed. There is then a quality issue and there is the testing issue. The testing issue is the big one really, it is to do with that golden thread that we now need to have especially on fire doors.
If you have ironmongery that has been installed in a factory situation by accredited installers, you know that it works with the door, you know that it is a tested system and there’s no room for doubt, there’s no room for risk, and that is what we have got to be putting into these buildings.
Russell: Why would you recommend SDS for future healthcare project?
Mel: Well, you are just my go to door manufacturer for healthcare. But seriously, it has been great to introduce you to HLM. I am not sure you were doing a lot together before I came on board, and it has been fantastic that we have been able to specify you in projects going forward.
Russell: Thank you very much, it has been great to talk to you.
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