I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the project. The following is a working abstract. It was my first attempt at putting my thoughts into words. I think it’s an appropriate introduction to my motivations for selecting this topic for my project:

 

“In a time where the state of military healthcare is in question, steps need to be taken to guarantee that those who have made grave sacrifices for the welfare of an entire country receive the necessary care to ensure that they can live a normal life. In particular, war veteran amputees face a unique challenge in terms of recovery and reintroduction to society, and a special building type has emerged to cater to their specific needs. This thesis proposes not just a rehabilitation center, but rather an advanced training center where patients will be trained physically, mentally, and socially.

 

It is an objective of this thesis to explore advancing prosthetic technology and to design a productive atmosphere where patients are inspired to persevere. There are a number of unique design opportunities due to the variety of apparatuses that are housed in such a building. In addition, because these patients are tethered to this facility throughout their rehabilitation and often have families, a master plan for patient housing will be included with the program. Integrating the housing with an existing community provides opportunities for the socialization of these patients.

 

 

In reality, this war is the first that I’ve been alive for and cognizant of what is really going on. I’ve seen the results of the war and have been disappointed with the state of things. People seem to have a “don’t ask, don’t tell” mentality when it comes to the reality of the war. Whether we agree or disagree on whether the United States military should stay in Iraq or pull out, the fact remains that people’s lives have been forever altered, and I think we can all agree as human beings with compassion that they deserve a new beginning.

 

Until next time,

R