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As we all reminisced about the summer of 2024—and the iconic, rain-soaked opening ceremonies along the Seine—two members of the Wilmot Sanz team were already preparing for their own podium moment.
At this year’s Healthcare Design Conference + Expo in Indianapolis, Kristen DelGandio, CHID, NCIDQ, IIDA, Partner, and Matthew Ryan, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate, took the stage alongside Javorka Saracevic, LEED Green Associate, Senior Director of Real Estate Planning, Design, and Construction at Adventist HealthCare, to share what it means to “Go for Gold” in healthcare interior design.
Their presentation—“Going for Gold: Setting the Olympic Standard for Systemwide Healthcare Interiors”—explored how the Adventist HealthCare and Wilmot Sanz teams developed a cohesive, mission-driven interior standards program that ensures every project across the health system reflects a unified vision for healing, consistency, and excellence.
Adventist HealthCare, a faith-based, not-for-profit organization serving Maryland and the Washington, DC region, operates four hospitals and more than forty off-campus facilities. Its mission—to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental, and spiritual healing—was the guiding force behind this initiative.
As DelGandio noted during the session, “Every space should tell the same story of care and compassion—whether you walk into an emergency department, a physician’s office, or a cancer center.”
To bring that story to life, the design team worked with Adventist HealthCare leadership to establish a comprehensive interior standards program that defines what the organization calls its “world-class brand.” This process went beyond finishes and furnishings; it sought to translate mission and values into every material, surface, and color palette.
The standards development process began by aligning the physical environment with Adventist HealthCare’s RISES principles—Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship—and by ensuring each space embodies these values through patient-centered design, natural connections, and spiritual integration.
Across projects such as White Oak Medical Center, Fort Washington Medical Center, and Shady Grove Medical Center, the team examined local demographics, patient populations, and operational needs to develop finish standards that reflect the unique context of each facility while maintaining a unified brand identity.
“Our goal was to connect the patient experience to the physical environment,” said Ryan. “Designing for consistency doesn’t mean designing for sameness—it means designing with purpose.”
Developing these systemwide standards required collaboration across a diverse range of stakeholders—from facilities and infection control teams to marketing, patient experience, and environmental services. The team used a “standards blueprint” approach to organize and refine every component, from finishes and furniture to signage, artwork, and behavioral health considerations.
Each element was tested through multiple lenses—cost, branding, maintenance, and infection control—to ensure long-term performance and sustainability. Real-world mock-ups and field testing informed every decision, providing critical lessons on material durability, cleanability, and aesthetics.
One particularly impactful takeaway came from flooring mock-ups, where the team studied wear patterns, maintenance results, and replacement feasibility—translating those insights into long-lasting, easy-to-maintain solutions that enhance both visual quality and operational performance.
Throughout the process, the design team prioritized transparency and feedback, holding iterative meetings to test, refine, and achieve buy-in from every department involved. The result: a flexible, easy-to-implement system that balances clinical requirements with an environment that feels warm, safe, and restorative.
The presentation concluded with examples of how the new standards have elevated design across Adventist HealthCare campuses—from healing gardens and art installations that express spiritual connection to team stations and clinical spaces optimized for efficiency and comfort.
For the presenters, sharing this story was about more than standardization—it was about designing for meaning.
“In the end, going for gold isn’t about winning,” said DelGandio. “It’s about consistency, collaboration, and creating something that uplifts people—every patient, every day.”
Kristen DelGandio, CHID, NCIDQ, IIDA, is a Partner at Wilmot Sanz, where she leads the interior design studio and specializes in healthcare brand identity, finish standards, and systemwide master planning.
Matthew Ryan, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP BD+C, is a Associate Principal and Project Manager at Wilmot Sanz, focused on medical planning and complex healthcare renovations.
Javorka Saracevic, LEED Green Associate, serves as Senior Director of Real Estate Planning, Design, and Construction at Adventist HealthCare, where she oversees healthcare campus development across Maryland and Washington, DC.
