Annette Ridenour of Aesthetics, Inc. and artist Ken Goldman set a new standard for healthcare design by elevating a utilitarian space

On May 20, 2026, Scripps Health opened the Lusardi Tower to the community. What visitors encounter isn’t just one painting in one corridor. It’s the largest single work in a 200+ piece healing arts program integrated into every floor, hallway, and shared space of the new tower. The art program itself “serves as a visual beacon for the hospital,” signaling a commitment to healing and community engagement.

The towering stairwell mural Icon Blooms in San Diego County is part of the Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Signature Collection, a group of 12 custom-commissioned artworks funded by community donors that transform entry, waiting, corridor, and café spaces throughout the facility. Art isn’t an add-on here. It’s woven into the architecture and the hospital’s identity.

This project demonstrates transformation, not just of a stairwell, but of what people can expect from healthcare design. The Aesthetics team transformed a space designed for transit into an experience. Ken Goldman translated the natural beauty of Encinitas into an experience that people can carry with them, step by step and floor by floor.