Jessica Welch
WHR Architects has named Jessica Welch as the 2016 recipient of the firm’s highly regarded Tradewell Fellowship Program. Few architectural fellowships offer recent graduates a focused opportunity to work closely with senior firm leaders and experience significant interaction with healthcare clients. WHR’s Tradewell Fellowship, now in its 18th year, has been an important milestone in the careers of its dedicated and successful alumni.
“When I found healthcare architecture, I felt like I had truly found the right field for me,” said Welch. “I believe that the Tradewell Fellowship will give me a unique opportunity to continue to learn, explore and grow at an even more accelerated pace.”
“Jessica will be collaborating with healthcare architects on several intriguing projects,” said David Watkins, FAIA, Founding Principal of WHR Architects and Healthcare Sector Leader for EYP. “Each year we bring in talented graduates who contribute to our architectural practice and the profession. Our Tradewell Fellows impact healthcare design worldwide.”
Jessica comes to the Tradewell Fellowship having earned her Master degree in Architecture and Health from Clemson University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Virginia. During her studies she has researched and explored a vast range of topics from Alzheimer’s care facilities, to the growth and design of ambulatory care settings. She hopes that this Fellowship experience will allow her more time to delve into the design of healthcare facilities and how the creativity of designers can truly be harnesses to improve the human experience.
Stephanie Schwindel, Tradewell Fellowship Curator, said, “Jessica is an excellent addition to our team. We’re excited to see her make her mark on the legacy of research and design in the Tradewell Fellowship.”
The yearlong Tradewell Fellowship was created to build careers of aspiring healthcare architects. Each year, the Tradewell Fellow is involved with clients in early master planning and design with a particular focus on healing environments and collaborative design methods as a part of their employment at WHR Architects. Fellows receive career guidance from leaders at WHR and a network of past Tradewell Fellows as well as scholarship to attend a healthcare architecture conference. Educational opportunities include: assisting with teaching a graduate level course on health facility planning, design and construction; participating in evidence-based design activities; and assisting members of the firm in authoring speeches, articles or books. Fellows are selected by the group of past Tradewells at WHR based on the strength of their design portfolios, letters of recommendation, essays of accomplishment, career goals and a commitment to healthcare architecture.