Commercial Architecture January/February 2016 - (Page 8)

FEATURE healthcare design B iophilic design may be the next big thing in healthcare design. Perhaps because of its origins in the ac- ademic fields of psychology and sociology, the term is still somewhat unfamiliar in the business world of healthcare construction, evidence-based design, and cost management. But that is changing. There is a growing body of research that quantifies the benefits of biophilic design, not to mention that the green movement and the well-building concept have acknowledged the importance of a connection to nature in their philosophies. The importance of daylight, plants, water, and materials is evident in the evolution of healthcare design as well as the design of other aspects of the built environment, from office buildings to city planning. It just may not have been called biophilic design. "The terms biophilia or biophilic design are not common in the industry yet, perhaps because they encompass a larger set of possible design interventions," agreed Catie Ryan, senior project manager at Terrapin Bright Green, a sustainability consulting and strategic-planning firm based in New York, and co-author of 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design. "Designers and healthcare providers understand how gardens, views, and daylighting make for more pleasant spaces, but they may not understand how subtler elements like natural materials, water features, or refuge conditions can dramatically influence people's psychological and physiological responses to spaces. Terrapin recommends designers thoughtfully incorporate a variety of biophilic design patterns in facilities, and not just rely on potted Designed by Array Architects, Conshohocken, PA, Penn Family Medicine Southern Chester County in West Grove, PA, opened in 2015. To provide natural lighting, the building features a pyramid skylight spanning 23 x 23 ft. with a 14-ft. 4-in. vertical, manufactured by Super Sky, Mequon, WI, and finished by Linetec, Wausau, WI, in a Sunstorm color 70% PVDF mica coating. Photo: William Lemke. Healthcare Design Gets Back To Nature Natural elements dramatically influence patient and staff psychological and physiological response to spaces. Kenneth W. Betz, Senior Editor 8 COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE JAN/FEB 2016 commercialarchitecturemagazine.com http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture January/February 2016

The Architects
Healthcare Design: Back to Nature
Missoula Aquifer Cools Cancer Center
HVAC & Plumbing Products
Reclaiming The Industrial Past
Interiors Products
Exterior Provides Complete System
Exteriors Products
Plant Gears Up With Skylights
Windows & Doors Products
Jewel Of The Bay
Lighting & Electrical Products
The Whitney Is Wired For Sound, Video
Building Technology Products
Showcase
Index
Portfolio

Commercial Architecture January/February 2016