Recognizing innovative designs that enhance the quality of healthcare delivery, Contract Magazine along with the Center for Health Design honor distinctive designs in healthcare at the Healthcare Environment Awards.

A panel of judges review entries in the following: acute care, ambulatory care, health and fitness, assisted living, professional conceptual, landscape design and student design. Winners are published in Contract magazine's annual healthcare issue, Contractmagazine.com and also are recognized at the annual Healthcare Design Conference.

The competition aims to recognize innovative, life-enhancing interior design that contributes to the quality of healthcare.

Award Categories
Professional Categories
- Acute (Inpatient) Care Facilities
- Ambulatory (Outpatient) Care Facilities
- Long-Term Care / Assisted Living Facilities
- Health and Fitness Facilities (environments in which the primary purpose is to provide healthcare and related services)
- Landscape Design
- Conceptual Design

Student Category
Awards will be given for innovative design solutions that enhance the quality of healthcare delivery. Entries can include, but are not limited to, healthcare products (furniture, furnishings, etc.), healthcare settings (patient areas, examination rooms, corridors, etc.), or technology (equipment, systems, etc.)

Judging Criteria
Professional Entries
- Visual and graphic images of interior spaces that support an environment capable of improving the quality of healthcare
- A demonstrated response to the program statement
- A demonstrated partnership between the clients and design professionals
- Client feedback or testimony that the project seeks to improve the quality of healthcare: Does it demonstrate sensitivity to patient needs and seek to improve therapeutic outcomes, enhance staff performance, and increase visitor and community participation? Were higher satisfaction ratings by patients, families, and staff a key design objective?

Professional Conceptual and Student Entries
- A demonstrated response to the goals mentioned in the project description 
- Visual and graphic images that support an environment capable of improving the quality of healthcare

Rules for Entry
No official entry form id required for the participation.

Professional Categories
- Submittals (except for conceptual) must be built and in use by 01 June 2008. Entries also must not have been entered in previous Healthcare Environment Awards competitions.
- Submittals must be contained within one binder and must include professional 8 x 10 color photographs and at least one floor plan. Conceptual submittals must include color renderings.
- Submittals must also include the project name and location, submittal category, and a brief program statement (300 - 500 words).
- The design firm name, address, and contact person’s name, email, and phone number must be provided in an envelope at the back of the binder for purposes of anonymity.
- Each submittal must include a 250 Dollars entry fee.

Student Category
- Submittals must be contained within one binder and must include professional quality photographs or renderings.
- Submittals must include project type and a brief project description (300 - 500 words) addressing the goals of the project and how and why the final project improves the quality of healthcare.
- Student names, address, and verification of student status in the form of a letter from the school registrar certifying enrollment at the time the project was completed must be provided in an envelope at the back of the binder for purposes of anonymity.
- Each student submittal must include a 25 Dollars entry fee.

Submission
All submittals must be received by 17:00 on 30 June 2008. For questions, call 646.654.7286 or visit contractmagazine.com. Make checks payable to Contract magazine. Mail submittals to: Healthcare Environment Awards Competition c/o Contract magazine 770 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, New York 10003.

Sponsors are not responsible for shipping and receipt of materials or for damage that may occur in transit. Submittals will be returned only at the entrant’s request and return postage must be provided at the time of submission for return. The decision of the judges is final. The judges reserve the right to make no award.

Recognition / Awards
- Winners will be announced at an awards presentation during HEALTHCARE DESIGN.08, 08 - 11 November 2008, in Washington, D.C.
- An award will be presented to each winner.
- Winners will be required to assemble presentation boards of winning projects for display at HEALTHCARE DESIGN.08.
- First-place winners will receive a complimentary registration to HEALTHCARE DESIGN.08.
- Winners will be published in an upcoming issue of Contract magazine featuring healthcare design.
- Winners and honorable mentions will be contacted individually by 01 August 2008.

Judges
Judges to be announced will include interior designers and architects with expertise in healthcare design and a member of the board of The Center for Health Design. The competition is sponsored by Contract magazine in association with The Center for Health Design and the HEALTHCARE DESIGN.08 Conference.