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Kari Thorsen, a principal and interior designer at ZGF Architects, once dreamed of being a medical researcher. Now she instead lays out hospitals’ interiors.

鈥淚 spend more time in hospitals (as an interior designer) than I would have as a researcher,鈥� she said. 鈥淥nce I got my first internship and found out I could design hospitals, I sort of never looked back from wanting to do health care design.鈥�

Thorsen’s efforts recently led to her being recognized by Healthcare Design (HCD) Magazine as an HCD 10 honoree. The annual awards program singles out industry professionals in 10 categories, including interior design.

鈥淚t’s a huge honor,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am still a little bit shocked. I am still getting used to it. There are some very talented people trying to push the envelope of health care design. Especially in my own firm there are a lot of great designers.鈥�

Thorsen has spent the past 13 years working on projects for CHI Franciscan Health in Washington, St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton and the Providence Tanasbourne Health Center and Ambulatory Surgery Center in Hillsboro.

The involvement of the community in Pendleton made its 160,000-square-foot hospital one of the highlights of her career, she said. The design aimed to maximize the amount of incoming daylight, which is associated with faster healing.

鈥淭he (Pendleton) community was so involved in it,鈥� said Thorsen, who has worked on projects stretching from Ohio to Washington. 鈥淭he people were amazing, kind and welcoming.鈥�

Because doctors, nurses and patients spend so much time in difficult conditions, they have a special appreciation for interior design, Thorsen said. But designers who tackle health care facilities also must account for municipal requirements.

鈥淭here are a lot more codes that we have to follow,鈥� she said. 鈥淚nfection control and patient safety are the top priority.鈥�

Effective designs of health care facilities maximize space more than those of many other projects, Thorsen said.

鈥淭he equipment is not super pleasant,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have to try to find a home for those things and make it less intimidating.鈥�

In addition to seeking efficient use of space, designers also aim to create a warm and patient-friendly atmosphere.

鈥淚t is an interesting balance of rules, regulations and therapeutic uses,鈥� Thorsen said. 鈥淚t is this constant battle of code requirements while accommodating oxygen containers and still creating a healing space for a patient.鈥�