Lilliana Alvarado
CHID, EDAC, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP
Founder and Design Principal
Contact Information
UPHEALING
5084984181
Specialties
Acute Care
Ambulatory Care
Cancer Treatment Centers
Education/Nursing & Medical Schools
Medical Offices
Medical/Dental Office
Outpatient Care
Rehabilitation
Residential Care/Senior Living
Senior Living/Long Term Care
Sustainable Design
Wellness/Fitness Center
Women & Children Health Facility

Designer Profile

Lilliana Alvarado, CHID, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED AP is a highly motivated professional with extensive interior architecture experience. She founded UPHEALING with a mission to create uplifting and engaging spaces for healthcare environments. For over 20 years she has designed and completed a wide range of healthcare settings, and she approaches every project with a thorough understanding of the needs of her clients. Her dedication to this understanding allows for a richer and better team approach to innovative solutions that are safe, functional, and comfortable for staff, patients, and their families. Her main focus is quality and finding innovative ways to create environments that enhance a personal connection for people.

Awards

International Interior Design Association Design Awards| New England Chapter - 2019, Award: BEST IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, Project: THE MEMORY CENTER -  ATLANTA

International Interior Design Association Design Awards | New England Chapter - 2018, Award: BEST IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, Project: THE NEELY HOUSE AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER

Case Studies

Interface - November 2018: THE MEMORY CENTER ATLANTA FOSTERS INDEPENDENCE THROUGH COMMUNITY

Crossville - June 2018: A HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND FAMILIES

Publications

Wallprotex - August 2020, Q & A: LILLIANA ALVARADO, HEALTHCARE DESIGNER

Healthcare Design Magazine - September 2019, Face Time: LILLIANA ALVARADO

Wallprotex - August 2019, Q & A: LILLIANA ALVARADO, HEALTHCARE DESIGNER

Spec Furniture Insights - July 2019, Q & A: HOW FABRICS AND FINISHES AFFECT HEALTHCARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Healthcare Snapshots - May 2019, Project Feature: THE NEELY HOUSE

Healthcare Snapshots - April 2019, Project Feature: MEMORY CENTER ATLANTA

Healthcare Snapshots - April 2019, Project Feature: MARLENE NEELY CENTER FOR DIGESTIVE HEALTH

Green Operations Magazine - January 2019, Article: ASSISTED LIVING GETS A RESIDENTIAL FEEL in collaboration with Elena Morrocco

Juror for International Interior Design Association - March 2018, Competition: IIDA NY BUFFALO CHAPTER - INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS 2018  

Juror for Contract Design Magazine - November 2017, Competition: HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT AWARDS 2017  

Behavioral Healthcare Executive Magazine - August 2017, Article: HOW TO EFFECTIVELY USE COLOR IN TREATMENT FACILITIES in collaboration with Alicia Hoisington

Knoll Research - May 2017, Research: MODERN MEDICINE in collaboration with Knoll

Healthcare Facilities Magazine - October 2015, Article: DURABLE INTERIORS

Juror for Behavioral Healthcare Magazine -June 2015, Competition: ANNUAL DESIGN SHOWCASE BRINGS BALANCING ACT TO LIGHT

Juror for Behavioral Healthcare Magazine -May 2014, Competition: ANNUAL DESIGN SHOWCASE HIGHLIGHTS SAFETY, PATIENT FLOW, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

Healthcare Design Magazine - November 2013, Article: SAFETY CHECK

Services

  • Space Planning Analysis and Programming
  • Conceptual Design and Inspiration
  • Interior Construction Drawings and Specifications
  • Interior Finishes Selection and Presentation
  • Custom Millwork and Details
  • Furniture, Furnishings and Accessories Selection and Specifications
  • Art and Signage Consultation
  • Design Documentation Management
  • Project Supervision and Administration
  • Branding and Integration
  • BIM (Building Information Modeling)
  • Renderings

Testimonial

“Lilliana was a savior for our latest project in Atlanta. Our company had been struggling for years with all aspects of the interior design of our communities.  She joined our team late in the process with construction well underway. Lilliana immediately went into action and pulled together all aspects of the design including flooring, wall coverings, art, proper painting and accent colors as well as accessories and icons which are so crucial in the daily care and well being of our residents. Most importantly she made sure we did not continue to make the same mistakes of the past. Everyone who has seen our Atlanta community is frankly in awe of the design. I would give Lilliana my highest recommendation.

Kevin A. DiBona
Chairman & CEO, The Memory Center

“Lilliana’s attention to detail is outstanding. She carefully researched the impact of color on healing in psychiatric settings and chose color schemes that were truly transformative. She designed homelike features such as “integrated beds” that mimic a sleigh bed for patient comfort. She creatively used millwork for shelving in patient rooms, for flexible and durable entertainment centers, and in creating seating arrangements for maximum comfort and privacy. As part of her work on the above projects, Lilliana researched furniture specifications for psychiatric facilities to help us select products that are safe, durable and comfortable.”

Gerri Cote, LICSW
Vice President of Operations, Brattleboro Retreat

“Lilliana took the time initially to truly understand our vision of what we wanted the patient experience to be, and how we hoped they, their friends and family, would “feel” as they are in our facility. Our ultimate hope was that our hospital did not have an institutional feel. We stated we wanted the unit to feel like a high-end hotel that just happened to provide medical care, without spending a fortune to do it. According to our own assessment, and the evidence collected through both anecdote and responses from our formal patient satisfaction surveys, we’ve accomplished this goal, in no small way thanks to Lilliana’s execution of our vision. She succeeded in using natural tones and materials, and a neutral palette to allow the space to remain contemporary while “fitting” with the rural elements of our community.”

Michael D. Peterson, FACHE
Chief Administrative Officer, Sebasticook Valley Health

“Lilliana develops interior design plans working closely with the deign team, and does a great job listening to, educating, and incorporating staff and end user suggestions into a comprehensive design ideally suited for the function of the space. In addition, she has been able to successfully balance our request to incorporate organization standards while creating exciting, vibrant, healing environments for our patients. Lilliana’s collaborative and open design process, coupled with her experience and level of research has produced excellent healing environments within our organization. Patients, visitors and staff have overwhelmingly offered positive comments on our newly renovated spaces.”

Domenic J. Ciavarro
Vice President of Facilities, Concord Hospital

Gallery