I’m excited to announce that on March 22, 2016, I will be speaking at the Washington Spa Alliance, which is holding its 6th annual symposium and luncheon. The topic of the symposium is The New Language of Spa. The event will be held at the National Press Club, a private club for journalists and communications professionals in Washington, DC, which has been a Washington institution for more than a century.
I was asked to speak on our “new design language for wellness”, focusing on Destination, Hotel, Medical and Workplace Wellness. I will be sharing innovative case studies that will impact the spa and wellness industry.
WeWork Wellness – New York City
WeWork is an incredibly successful collective office environment providing flexibility and dynamic options for its “community of office nomads”; we are delighted to be collaborating with them on a workplace wellness prototype that will give a convenient amenity to their existing rich culture of the business not-as-usual collective.
Palm Integrative Health – St Louis, MO
Palm – (personalized advanced lifestyle medicine) is located in St. Louis, Missouri, by founder Dr Lauren Munsch Dal Farra. We integrated our evidence-based design within the project. A welcoming “wellness garden” was of utmost importance, located at the heart of the project. There is extensive research that supports how “nature nurtures.” Views of gardens and nature provide a faster recovery time for patients, and they request pain medication less frequently when they have a view or are allowed to engage w/ nature.
Jumeirah Hotel – Guangzhou, China
In Guangzhou, China, we are doing a 15,000-square-foot wellness facility and spa for the Jumeirah group. With this project, we are trying to create signature treatments that will resonate and are particular to the place. With the Chinese population’s unique concern regarding pollution, we designed salt inhalation rooms that address poor air quality. The salt inhalation helps asthmatics as well as those with other pulmonary conditions.
Governors Island – New York, NY
This project is a destination spa on Governors Island for QC-Terme. This is an ambitious European-style project that incorporates indoor and outdoor pools. The experience can fill a full day of activities from bodywork and massage to facials and taking the waters with European Kneipp therapies. Hydrotherapy pools, both indoor and outdoor, will offer extraordinary views of Manhattan.
The Spa by Ivanka Trump- Washington, DC
The final project is a signature flagship spa curated by Ivanka Trump. We collaborated with WTS spa management in our role as architects + interior designers, and Ivanka wants to introduce a unique positioning within spa and wellness.
Ivanka, at the groundbreaking ceremony, said:
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redevelop one of this country’s most historic buildings, and we will spare no effort to ensure that the hotel, once completed, lives up to the legacy and integrity of the iconic landmark.” [1]
These projects, each a different type with different attributes, will contribute to our new New Language of Spa and Wellness in the coming years.
6th Annual Washington Spa Alliance Symposium
With Guest Speaker, Robert D. Henry
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
9:00 am – 7:00 pm
The National Press Club
529 14th St. NW, 13th Fl
Washington, DC 20045
202-662-7500
[1] “Spa People.” Spa Business Digital Magazine. Cybertrek 2016, 2016. Web.
Robert Henry
roberthenry@rdh-architects.com
www.rdh-architects.com
212.533.4145
