Evidence-based, nature-inspired art program by regional San Diego County artists spans all four floors of the 235-bed facility, redefining the role of art in healthcare design.
Encinitas, CA — May 20, 2025 — Aesthetics, Inc., a national leader in healing-centered art consulting and curation, today announced the completion of a four-floor integrated arts program at the new Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. Commissioned by Scripps Health as part of its Here for Good Capital Campaign, the program transforms the 140,000-square-foot, 235-bed facility into a restorative environment where art serves as a foundation for healing.
Aesthetics, Inc. led the program from concept to installation, basing each decision on evidence-based design research. Studies show that exposure to nature, whether real or depicted in art, can support healing by improving mood, reducing anxiety, and aiding recovery. The result is an immersive experience rooted in nature, community, and connection.
Aesthetics, Inc. issued a regional call for artists and received over 300 responses from San Diego County. Artists from diverse backgrounds were selected to ensure the collection reflects the Scripps Encinitas community.
Drawing inspiration from the landscapes and communities of North San Diego County, the firm developed a layered visual narrative that unfolds floor by floor, from coastal swells to botanical growth and open skies. These moments of calm also serve as intuitive wayfinding. The collection features more than 25 large-scale commissioned works and over 200 integrated pieces by regional artists. Each piece was selected and placed to provide positive distraction, foster trust, and evoke a sense of belonging and hope throughout patient rooms, corridors, waiting areas, and public spaces.
“Healthcare environments shape how patients heal, how families wait, and how staff sustains themselves through demanding work,” said Annette Ridenour, President & CEO of Aesthetics, Inc. “Our role is to design every visual and spatial moment in service of those experiences, and to ensure the resulting work authentically reflects the people who move through it.”
The Lusardi Tower marks a new chapter in Scripps Health’s long-term expansion in North San Diego County. For Aesthetics, Inc., the project reflects what becomes possible when a healthcare system treats art as integral to care and serves as a model for investing in the full human experience of healing, not just its clinical delivery. When the tower opens its doors, every corridor, waiting room, and patient room will carry that intention forward.
About Aesthetics
Aesthetics, Inc. is a nationally recognized arts and design consulting firm specializing in healthcare environments. For more than 45 years, the company has collaborated with hospitals, clinics, and wellness centers throughout the U.S. and Canada to create spaces that promote healing, reduce stress, and reflect the values of the communities they serve.
Direct all media inquiries to:
Kristie Bergmann, Marketing & Graphics Manager
Aesthetics, Inc. | 2900 4th Ave, Ste. 206, San Diego, CA
marketing@aesthetics.net
www.aesthetics.net
Featured art by Betty Busby (left) and Ken Goldman (right).