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ASK THE ARCHITECT
The new head of healthcare at HLM, Melanie Jacobsen Cox, answers ADF’s questions on what makes her tick
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME AN ARCHITECT?
I have construction in my blood through my grandfather and dad, but my subject strengths at school – English, Art and Maths – lent themselves well to the industry in terms of communication, design and rational function. My dad was initially hesitant about me working in what he saw as a male dominated workplace, but I’m glad I persisted and thankfully, I’ve seldom found being the only female in the room or around the table an issue.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT MOST NOW? I’m really enjoying the new role at HLM. Having worked mainly in technical delivery of healthcare projects, I now feel that the door has blown wide open, and I’m enjoying having the mindspace to look at the bigger picture of healthcare architecture strategically as well as meeting and having conversations with people who really care about society and communities living their best, healthiest lives.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF WORKING IN HEALTHCARE?
Melanie Jacobsen Cox, head of healthcare at HLM
The timescales and the funding structure often places projects under pressure from day one. It’s so important to hit the ground running and bring agile healthcare design onto paper quickly. This is set against the context of obtaining the detailed brief from clinicians who are often re-evaluating the services that they provide, which can
evolve right up until the day of handing over a building. All of this requires time for digesting and thinking about the best and most flexible solution, and often time is of the essence.
One of the hardest, but most essential
things, is to ask the right questions at the right time. Thankfully, HLM has developed the Thoughtful Toolkit which does exactly this and we are looking at how this dovetails to maximum effect with our stakeholder engagement process.
WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT WORKING IN HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION? I love the crossover with other sectors. From looking at healthier towns and cities in our Asset and Masterplanning to the intricacies of specialist requirements in SEN schools and the Justice sector. I really enjoy having these wider ranging conversations and as global health becomes paramount, taking a simpler holistic view of health and how it is essential across the board.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE?
I’m a great believer in democratic leadership, however the varied roles that an architect encompasses, such as lead designer, means at times this style needs to be adapted to being more authoritative when we need to find direction and solutions to the challenges faced in projects. Regardless, I’m passionate about the dynamics of a team and fostering a
Altnagelvin North Wing Development, Derry
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF JUNE 2022
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