stantec (formally anshen + allen)
Firm's role on the project: Planning, Programming, Architecture, Design, Interiors
EBD Goal
To identify built “centers of excellence” that best represent evidence-based design (EBD) and eco-effective design (EED) innovations.
Challenge
The team started by reviewing “best of” lists of healthcare facilities; however, these articles seemed anecdotal. To create a more credible list the research team used a multi-step process to ensure due diligence. Phase one entailed interviews with internal advisory groups to identify national EBD and sustainability experts and facilities they deemed as “centers of excellence.” These findings were used along with a literature review.
Results were compiled and sent to the national experts who were asked to identify the Top 10 built facilities in North America representing best practices in EBD or EED hospitals. From the survey a list of centers of excellence was developed identifying possible respondents to interviews and surveys about the design strategies implemented in their facilities.
Solution
The EBD and sustainability experts identified nine EBD and nine EED facilities that represented best practices in each subject area. The research team then contacted eight administrators from each facility type to interview and survey. (Full methodology and findings are available in the 2009 article in Health Environments Research and Design (HERD).
The final analysis of the survey data influenced the creation of an Integration Matrix. This matrix then helped to isolate a set of “always events,” 10 best practices for both areas (EBD and EED) with strategies that can be implemented without compromising one another.