Ozarks Profile - Stephanie Ireland

What is your job?

Architect Stephanie Ireland is principal and owner of Ireland and Associates Inc. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects.

Tell us about your company.

"I started my business in 2000. I deal mostly with medical and health care facilities, but also am involved in other types of commercial buildings, i.e.churches, restaurants, office buildings, etc. My main client is St. John's Regional Health Center. I work with their campus in town as well as the facilities in the surrounding communities, including Lebanon." Ireland has designed a variety of medical units and facilities for magnetic resonance imaging, pediatric, psychology, surgery, emergency/trauma, endoscopy, CT scan, bone marrow transplant, etc.

What prepared you to work in architecture?

"I feel destined to have been architect. My mother is a professor at Southwest Misouri State University in interior design and my father is a retired high school wood shop teacher (in Texas). While other girls played with dolls, I played with hammers, drill presses, planers and radial arm saws."

What effect is recent economic change having in your industry?

"The most obvious is the recent expansion plans for St. John's. I am not directly involved in the expansion it is a much larger project than I am qualified to handle but I am indirectly involved. As a result of the new expansion, there will be a lot of shifting throughout the hospital and its buildings that is where I come into play. The master planners from St. Louis are taking care of the expansion. Once it is built and people move into the new areas, the old areas will be remodeled and departments will be shifted within the existing facility."

What trends do you see developing in your field?

"In the health care industry there is a trend to get patients into outpatient clinics rather than into the hospital," Ireland said. For example, she said, more procedures can take place outside the hospital because of the advances in technology, which is more convenient and less intimidating for the patient. Facility design doesn't have to be as "hospital" intensive, with back-up generators, large oxygen systems, special infection control issues, etc., making the building much less expensive, Ireland said. Hospitals of the future will have far fewer beds, hospital stays will be shorter and rooms within the hospital will become more versatile.

What is the best part of your job?

"I absolutely love my job I love what I do," Ireland said, adding that she enjoys the challenge and the opportunity she has to learn about procedures, advances in technology and about people. "I get bored quite easily, and in this field of architecture, no two projects are ever the same. The best part of my job is being allowed to do what I do every day."

Tell us about your personal life and family.

"I have been married to a wonderful person Ken Turner, of Turner Fence Company for 2 1/2 years. I have two great step-sons, Kyle, 6, and Cody, 10. We were married in the middle of a hockey game at center ice at the Kansas City Blades game on February 13. I was given away by the team's mascot, and the pastor rode in on the Zamboni. It was great! Other people talk about their honeymoon we talk about our wedding!"

by Frank Shipe