Salus' President David Frum Honored with AIA Fellowship

A Prestigious Designation Reserved for just 3% of Architects

Established in 1857, the AIA is an international organization seeking to “advocate for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing.” From AIA’s collection of over 91,000 members, only three percent are selected to join the distinguished College of Fellows. An AIA member is eligible for elevation to Fellow only after 10 years of AIA membership and by “demonstrating influence” in one of the following categories as outlined by the AIA:

• Promoted the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession;

• Advanced the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education, training or practice;

• Coordinated the building industry and the profession of architecture through leadership in the AIA or other related professional organizations; or

• Advanced the living standards of people through an improved environment.

David Frum was selected to the College of Fellows by a seven-member Jury of Fellows. These Fellows evaluated Frum’s career and contributions to architecture, as well as his impact on society at large, and declared him to have met a standard of excellence only few have been able to achieve. As a member of the College of Fellows, Frum will continue his work to improve the world in which he lives by weaving together architecture and community building, always striving to advance healthcare and guide the next generation of revolutionary AIA members.

Frum’s Career has been Dedicated to Healthcare Architecture

Salus Architecture’s David Frum is well-deserving of the fellowship having been an innovator in healthcare architecture for the past 20 years. Frum has always been a firm believer in the phrase “form follows function,” and determined to take that notion to a higher level. The spaces Frum designs transform the physical architecture of a building into a tool that assists in the healing and wellbeing of healthcare recipients and their families. These spaces become a place where humanity rises over regulations and technology, allowing all users to experience human dignity.

Frum’s influence over healthcare architecture doesn’t stop there. Driven by a steadfast commitment to the next generation of healthcare designers, he initiated and lead regional healthcare design activities and soon found himself guiding the efforts of the AIA’s Academy of Architecture for Health, with similar events taking place nationwide.

Focus on Collaboration with Healthcare Providers

Frum’s focus has always zeroed in on a collaborative approach to design. An approach that was evident when he harmoniously guided stakeholders to create a nationally recognized project, the Dally Tower. This immense project replaced most essential portions of the MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital facility; including the emergency department, surgery, imaging and patient’s floors. Throughout the entirety of the project, the hospital remained fully operational. The completion of the Dally Tower project culminated in the Vista Award; a teamwork award granted annually to a single project by the American Society of Healthcare Engineers. The award acknowledged the complex and wide-ranging challenges faced by the team. The demanding circumstances of the project resulted in a design that utilized the sloping terrain of the site to provide better access to the facility. Throughout the project, Frum stuck to his values and led ongoing gatherings to ensure that all involved had a voice in discussions and felt ownership of the project.

Leveraging Decades of Experience to Streamline Healthcare Processes

If collaboration is Frum’s dedication, then reducing the cost of healthcare in facilities would be his passion. As President of Salus Architecture, he has made healthcare the firm’s sole focus. Through this specialization, and by staying educated and up-to-date on cutting edge design and innovation, the firm can do everything in its power to better serve the healthcare community. Frum managed this process by implementing the LEAN approach to programming and design, emphasizing functional flows through information as well as physical spaces. The Virginia Mason Center for Hyperbaric Medicine was an early adoptee of the LEAN approach to healthcare and is a prime example of the philosophy in practice. The Center encompasses the largest hyperbaric chamber of its kind North of San Francisco. It has been toured by numerous teams from around the world seeking to learn how such an intimidating machine can be so seamlessly incorporated into a soft, pleasant environment. The project received the Award of Mention in Healthcare from the Pacific NW Chapter of the International Interior Design Association.

Frum’s Ongoing Commitment to Developing Healthcare Centered Design

Frum’s dedication and passion for the industry and the AIA is unyielding. Frum has been active in the AIA since his graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1984. His involvement with the AIA Minnesota chapter was followed by membership in AIA Seattle, culminating in a deep commitment to professional education. Frum then took a regional organization of healthcare architects, the Architecture for Health Panel, and made it into the envy of healthcare design interest groups around the country. He led the organizations regional initiatives committee and spearheaded an annual conference which highlights current relevant healthcare design topics while also showcasing national speakers to a regional audience. In doing so, Frum was responsible for exposing young practitioners, who wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to attend a national conference, to the overarching issues that greatly impact their work. Frum’s drive for improved healthcare design education continues to this day, as he recently pioneered the efforts of the AIA’s Academy of Architecture for Health to guide and initiate similar events nationwide, ensuring everyone has access to career advancement, improving the professional lives of numerous young architects, and in turn, the industry as a whole.