The case for rigorous research in the design process of architecture is especially compelling in health care settings. Hospitals are costly to build and operate, and their performance is critical to both staff and patient outcomes.
Lynn Webster is a proponent of research methodologies for applied design. Architect and principal with Canadian architectural firm Cohos Evamy integratedesign™, Webster believes designers have a moral imperative to understand and address the issues faced by health care institutions. In Webster’s experience, good design has the ability to reduce patient length of stay in hospital, improve operational efficiencies and enhance employee recruitment and retention at a time when these are major issues for the health care system.
Cohos Evamy has developed an evidence based research process called integratedesign™ Research. It promotes meaningful collaboration between the design disciplines and with clients, resulting in higher quality designs and improved building performance based on research conducted at the pre-design, mid-design, and post-design phases.
