Michelle Trott AIA, ACHA, NCARB
Principal, Healthcare
Clark Patterson Lee
Rochester, NY
How has ACHA certification enhanced your career in healthcare architecture and/or design?
The small community hospital need for excellent healthcare in close proximity has always been an interest of mine. ACHA certification provides an opportunity to further gain access to peers that have the same interest and educational opportunities to further my career.
What would you say to anyone interested in the field?
The most rewarding aspect of healthcare architecture is solving architecturally a space to heal, a place for families and community to interact and comfort. We problem solve for the most complicated spaces integrated with technology and operational planning, but we get to see the reward in the outcome not only thru the architecture but thru the patient, family member or staff experience.
What led you to becoming ACHA certified?
Certification was important to me to be one of the first architects in upstate New York with this credibility. It also was a desire to be more, to learn more and provide myself with opportunities to be part of a larger peer network.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you personally or your practice?
At this time COVID-19 pandemic seems overwhelming but lacking a miraculous conclusion. Internally, I led our strategic planning team to research and education on room solutions architecturally and mechanically for the rest of our healthcare team and clients.
About You
Education:
Syracuse University, Bachelors of Architecture
Providing an opportunity for a community hospital to prosper with great healthcare design is a passion for me. It is the drive to provide access to healthcare thru research, lean design and an open line of communication with our clients. My experience has been rewarding over the past 20 plus years with great clients, our truly collaborative CPL team and interesting projects. My outlet and balance of life is my husband and my two high schoolers. In my free time I love to garden but believe that the woodchucks benefit more than our family does.
Accomplishments
Last fall, I was selected to be part of the Academy’s Board specifically for codes. This position has given me the opportunity to gather and share information with fellow Healthcare Architects on code changes and modifications to pursue. With this position, I hope to make codes less of an intrusion to our design, but a benefit and a tool to mentor young healthcare architects to understand the spatial needs of specific spaces.