Chicago architecture and interior design firm, Design Organization, Inc., was named 2003 Professional Services Consultant of the Year for projects under $2,000,000 at University of Illinois at Chicago. Established in 1971, Design Organization, is an architecture firm specializing in health care design with offices in Valparaiso, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois.

The award was initiated by UIC’s Office of Capital Programs with the purpose of evaluating and providing feedback on the performance of professional services consultants and contractors who do work at UIC. Design Organization renovated and expanded the existing dialysis unit, converting two rooms, an adjacent waiting area and an office into a new nine-station unit capable of holding seven full-size gurneys and two treatment chairs, a fellows office and support spaces. The design integrated the central nurses’ station with the head wall for the treatment stations using a curved peninsula form to “double-load” the stations and achieve maximum efficiency while allowing clear observation of the patients. Temporary dialysis was provided throughout construction.