The IIDA Student Design Competition (SDC), sponsored by OFS and Carolina, celebrates the talent and fresh design ideas of design students around the world who are currently enrolled in an interior design or interior architecture program. The competition provides emerging professionals the opportunity to showcase their work and gain exposure in the interior design industry.
For this year’s competition, students were invited to design several critical areas within a new adult inpatient behavioral unit, located in Denver. The design should include spaces that support healing, intuitive wayfinding, and evoke confidence and trust for adult patients and their families. Students were also asked to ensure that the design supports seamless interaction for patients, families, and care staff to optimize the experience and outcomes through interior design — all while taking into consideration new drivers in behavioral care like acoustics, sensory interventions, and family-focused areas.
Jurors
Principal, Interior Design Director, Page
Director of Design Strategy, OFS
Senior Interior Designer, HDR
Interior Designer, Healthcare, Gresham Smith
Vice President and Principal, HGA Architects and Engineers
WINNERS
FIRST PLACE:
LeAnne Hlavka, Interior Designers Institute
Sunshine: Day 1 Behavioral Health Clinic
Receiving this award is validation that my work is headed in the right direction, and that there is a place for my design perspective in the current industry. This award means a lot to me on a personal level, as I lost my dad while working on the project and did not know if I had it in me to finish. I will hallmark this achievement as an example of perseverance, and know my dad would find the win to be really novel.
LeAnne Hlavka
Sunshine: Day 1 is a thoughtfully designed facility integrating informed design solutions that radiate around a holistic patient experience and journey to more days of sunshine. Skylights and windows allow for natural and cast light and shadow while LED lights tunable to circadian rhythms are specified with LightGlass simulated glass features. The care desk promotes a positive relationship between staff and patients; the sundial courtyard moves patients out to nature; and the arched fireplace encourages gathering and community. Considerations of patient testimonials seeking autonomy, comfort and dignity in treatment centers are prioritized by designing the clinic with materials, tall structures and expansive views that resemble a mountain retreat. The ideas of “Prospect” (view of nature) and “Refuge” (shelter) in biophilic studies show that both in tandem reduce stress, enhance mood and a feeling of safety, therefore, alcoves and curved shapes are thoughtfully included to offer respite. Gentle colors, intuitive wayfinding and clutter free rooms inhibit potential triggers, resulting in a safe space sensitive to all patients.
SECOND PLACE:
Leah Ferry, Kent State University
Path to Balance: A Healing Environment for Behavioral Health
Receiving this award is an incredible honor because it validates the power of thoughtful and intentional design. As a designer, I strive to create environments that have a meaningful impact on people’s lives, and this recognition reinforces the importance of that work. It also motivates me to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas in design.
Leah Ferry
Path to Balance presents a holistic approach to behavioral healthcare by integrating fluid architectural elements, nature-inspired materials, and therapeutic strategies with a focus on guiding design principles of the seamless integration of curves and organic shapes; nature-inspired therapeutic spaces; adaptability and personalization; and safety, accessibility, and comfort. The intuitive wayfinding, sensory-responsive environments, and adaptable areas embrace biophilic principles and acoustic interventions through greenery, nature-inspired wall coverings, sound-absorbing materials, and white noise integration. Flexible therapy rooms and multi-use spaces that can be adjusted to meet individual needs, allow space for reflection, work, and rest while mitigating stress-inducing stimuli, while the care desk is strategically positioned to maintain a clear lie of sight. This design prioritizes ligature-resistant solutions, ADA-compliant features, and staff visibility without compromising the sense of autonomy and dignity for patients. Private spaces for de-escalation, including the Quiet Room, offer patients a sanctuary for self-regulation within a secure setting. Path to Balance is more than a healthcare facility—it is a dynamic, healing environment that fosters growth, resilience, and well-being through intentional, human-centered design.
THIRD PLACE:
Katie Becher and Samantha Crown, Florida State University
Vantage Point Behavioral Health Clinic
"After participating in the IIDA competition, I can confidently say I have become a better designer and team player. This competition is challenging and rewarding for everyone involved and I am so grateful to have been recognized for this amazing opportunity."
- Katie Becher
"If you would have told me a couple of months ago that our project placed in this competition I wouldn't have believed it. There is never any harm in doing something that pushes you out of your comfort zone."
- Samantha Crown
Vantage Point Behavioral Health is an inpatient behavioral health facility serving patients eighteen and older, encompassing a combination of indoor and outdoor areas for use by patients, families and friends of patients, healthcare providers, and staff. The safety of all users is the main priority, utilizing design as a tool to promote wellness. Located in the city of Denver which is recognized for its vibrant urban skyline and scenic mountain views that appeals to tourists and locals alike. Therapy can lead to significant breakthroughs and insights into one’s mental and emotional health — similarly in nature, hidden depths are what build strength in our world. The clinic encourages patients to visualize themselves in their own environment and have control over their perspective and healing. Important sightlines for healthcare providers will be maintained throughout the facility to ensure the safety of patients. With a goal of encouraging patients to find strength in the depths of their own horizons, the facility will be inspired by the layers of Colorado’s nature, using an attentive design approach to create a positive, calming atmosphere where the healing power of sight is woven into every aspect of care.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Michael Hernandez Reyes and Hailey Reicks, Kirkwood Community College
Healing Through Connection Center
Healing Through Connection Center embodies the resilience and unity of an aspen grove, where individual trees thrive through a vast interconnected root system. Combining Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian comfort, the space achieves a delicate balance of clean lines, organic materials, and soft neutral tones. Wayfinding techniques enhance navigation and accessibility through a color-coded system applied to rooms and hallways while skylights in the milieu space bring in natural daylight while a continuous light strip enhances spatial awareness. Open communal areas encourage social interaction and connection, while private nooks and enclosed rooms provide solitude and reflection. The design considerations reinforce safety, comfort, and therapeutic engagement with a patient-centered approach. Patient rooms have non-locking doors for safety without compromising dignity; belongings are stored in locked compartments; medication room layout facilitates a secure and smooth process, and the nourishment center is a secure, locked room adjacent to the care desk for easy access. This facility is more than just a treatment center—it is a space for growth, renewal, and holistic well-being. Blending nature, thoughtful interior design, and human connection, it fosters a sense of community, trust, and reassurance, ensuring an environment where patients, staff, and families can heal, grow, and thrive together.
Related Articles
-
Building A Diverse Design Future with IA
IIDA and IA announce the 2025 Diversity in Design Scholarship Awardees — Supporting a diverse design industry through our students -
5 Pieces of Essential Career Advice
How to get that first job, cultivate a design career, and more guidance from leading designers at a recent panel discussion at Morgan State University -
The Best of Academic Library Design
These campus library designs offer modern and flexible study spaces drenched in natural light -
Lead. Grow. Inspire. Unite
25 years of supporting students in their journey to becoming a professional interior designer -
More Showrooms, More Booths, More Chances to Win
Our Showroom and Booth Competition is expanding in 2025 -
Students to Know: 2024 Winners
IIDA’s 2024 John J. Nelson Sr. Legacy Scholarship recipients Kiaira Coates and Charles Forkwa share their projects and the impact design has had on them.