The Center for Health Design

The Center for Health Design Research: We help facilitate research on how the design of the built environment affects outcomes.

The Center for Health Design is a non-profit organization - through design research, education and advocacy we improve and maximize health, safety and wellness in environments where people live, work and heal. A major initiative is the Pebble Project, a unique and dynamic collaborative, where forward-thinking healthcare, design, and industry professionals learn, research, and share information with one another. Our website has more than 40 free research reports and whitepapers that link the built environment to outcomes and searchable databases of relevant research and project examples. Education: Our Evidence-based Design Accreditation & Certification (EDAC) program is an internationally recognized educational program that awards credentials to individuals who demonstrate a thorough understanding of how to apply an evidence-based process to plan and design healthcare facilities. With more than 1,200 certified individuals since its launch in 2009, EDAC is quickly becoming one of the healthcare design industry’s most important credentials. Each year, more than 4,000 individuals attend our annual Healthcare Design conference and 30,000 subscribe to Healthcare Design magazine (both produced by Vendome Group in association with CHD). Advocacy: We recognize and promote excellence in design and leadership through 5 award programs. By providing input into the Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities, we are advocating for change in the building codes and standards. A partner in the Healthier Hospitals Initiative, we are an active participant in a coalition of major health systems and organizations committed to improving sustainability and safety across the healthcare sector. Hundreds of individuals and organizations are engaged to support our work and help transform the industry through our affiliate membership program.

The Sun Devil 100 honors the growth and leadership of Arizona State University alumni-led organizations making an impact...
03/20/2026

The Sun Devil 100 honors the growth and leadership of Arizona State University alumni-led organizations making an impact across industries. We’re proud to share that our President and CEO, Debra Levin, has been recognized as part of the Class of 2026. Each year, the ASU Alumni Association honors global business leaders who exemplify innovation, growth, and entrepreneurial spirit, and we’re proud to see her recognized among them.
Learn more here: https://loom.ly/mMU87zs

With industry news, current trends, field reports, and more,   can help you take on the unique challenges facing the hea...
03/20/2026

With industry news, current trends, field reports, and more, can help you take on the unique challenges facing the health facility design, construction and operations communities. Get a free two-year digital subscription today: https://loom.ly/tc62m_4

Listen to the podcast: https://loom.ly/r66Q0UsBefore her bags were barely unpacked from the recent 2026   in Houston, Fl...
03/19/2026

Listen to the podcast: https://loom.ly/r66Q0Us
Before her bags were barely unpacked from the recent 2026 in Houston, FloorFocus publisher Kemp Herr caught up with The Center for Health Design’s CEO Debra Levin, Hon. FASID, EDAC for her Summit perspectives and takeaways.

In this short podcast interview, Debra talks about The Center’s growing partnership with the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) and PDC; its success in creating broader engagement among all stakeholders in the planning, design, construction and operation of healthcare facilities; and, the increasing participation among flooring and other healthcare design product and service providers – drawing record attendance and exhibit hall participation this year.

Thanks, Kemp, for the opportunity to chat with you about this year’s great PDC Summit!

Designed by Perkins&Will, Cone Health MedCenter Asheboro serves as a stage to promote health and well-being in a welcomi...
03/19/2026

Designed by Perkins&Will, Cone Health MedCenter Asheboro serves as a stage to promote health and well-being in a welcoming, accessible environment. Visitors are guided by rows of oak trees and a roof canopy uniting the Clinic and Cancer Center. The building’s elegant form and intuitive layout make navigation easy, while a curved wood wall in reception showcases local artists and connects to the community.

Infusion Rooms focus on patient comfort, with natural light, expansive views, and a calming atmosphere. Full-height glass walls on three sides fill the space with sunlight and provide unobstructed views of the surrounding nature. The rooms overlook pollinator gardens beneath a private “Porch,” where vibrant plantings attract butterflies and bees, offering patients a peaceful and restorative connection to the outdoors. Learn more about this Healthcare Environment Award project at the link. https://loom.ly/sTRlBVU

The Center for Health Design website attracts highly competent and skilled professionals seeking the latest research and...
03/18/2026

The Center for Health Design website attracts highly competent and skilled professionals seeking the latest research and information in the health design field. What better place to look for talent for your company? Purchase a job posting - either 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days - and we will add it to our website's job board. To purchase a job posting, visit this link. https://loom.ly/DOjH7Bo

Want to hear who's doing what, where and how in healthcare design? Our monthly Currents newsletter features new research...
03/16/2026

Want to hear who's doing what, where and how in healthcare design? Our monthly Currents newsletter features new research, tools, resources and events for you. Follow the link to see our March 2026 newsletter. Read it here: https://loom.ly/LCZWnN0

As cancer rates rise and care delivery evolves, oncology facilities must adapt to meet growing clinical and operational ...
03/16/2026

As cancer rates rise and care delivery evolves, oncology facilities must adapt to meet growing clinical and operational demands. This session explores how evidence-based design can address the shift from acute treatment to long-term management, supporting safer, more efficient, and patient-centered environments.

Through case studies in Pennsylvania, New York City, and Nebraska, Louis A. Meilink and Fernanda Pires of Ballinger will examine how design strategies—such as decentralized care models and key environmental considerations—can be tailored to different community contexts while strengthening performance, communication, and the overall care experience. Affiliate discounts apply. Learn more and register: https://loom.ly/iSCuEFM

UF Health North Inpatient Tower, submitted by Gresham Smith, brings much-needed healthcare services to the growing North...
03/12/2026

UF Health North Inpatient Tower, submitted by Gresham Smith, brings much-needed healthcare services to the growing North Jacksonville area. This 160,000‑sq‑ft, five-story, 92‑bed hospital was designed to enhance patient experiences, attract top-tier staff, and reflect the UF Health brand. Evidence-based design principles guided the project, creating spaces that support staff collaboration, restorative breaks, and family-engaged patient care.

The design also focused on efficiency and sustainability, eliminating departmental barriers and reducing staff redundancy. Jurors praised the team’s inclusion of nurse stakeholders and leadership, as well as the post-occupancy evaluation insights, including feedback on varied staff break spaces. The result is a high-tech, patient-focused facility that supports both caregivers and the community it serves. Read more about the 2026 Gold Touchstone Award recipient here: https://loom.ly/EawagGE

Primary care exam rooms are becoming the center of the healthcare experience. Technological advances, point-of-care test...
03/11/2026

Primary care exam rooms are becoming the center of the healthcare experience. Technological advances, point-of-care testing, and improved organizational flow models are streamlining the patient experience. Because of this, patients will spend the majority of their visit inside the exam room instead of moving around among waiting areas, consult rooms, labs, or separate treatment spaces. Many are being redesigned to foster a caregiver-patient relationship and to accommodate the changing needs of technology.

By designing the exam room to be more patient-centric, providers and care teams can significantly enhance effectiveness, efficiency, comfort, safety, and quality of care. Check out our free interactive design diagram tool for primary care exam rooms here: https://loom.ly/d-kk8ZM

With global cancer incidence and the cost of care projected to rise, oncology environments must evolve to support healin...
03/10/2026

With global cancer incidence and the cost of care projected to rise, oncology environments must evolve to support healing while improving safety, patient experience, and operational performance.

As care shifts from acute treatment to long-term management, facilities must accommodate repeat visits and new care models. Drawing on trend data, post-occupancy evaluations, and literature reviews, this session explores how evidence-based design can respond.

Featuring three cancer care facilities in Pennsylvania, New York City, and Nebraska, Louis A. Meilink and Fernanda Pires of Ballinger will examine decentralized care stations and key environmental factors affecting safety, communication, and efficiency—demonstrating how evidence-based design supports resilient, patient-centered oncology environments. Affiliate discounts apply. Learn more and register: https://loom.ly/iSCuEFM

Swing by our Expo Booth  #139 at the PDC Summit to explore the latest in healthcare design research, tools, and communit...
03/10/2026

Swing by our Expo Booth #139 at the PDC Summit to explore the latest in healthcare design research, tools, and communities to support your next construction or renovation project. Don’t miss our interactive poll: What Keeps You Up at Night as a healthcare design professional? Come join the conversation—we can’t wait to see you!

The Center for Health Design will honor Scott Zeller, MD, at the 2026 PDC Summit! As the creator of the EmPATH model and...
03/09/2026

The Center for Health Design will honor Scott Zeller, MD, at the 2026 PDC Summit! As the creator of the EmPATH model and a tireless advocate for reimagining behavioral health spaces, Dr. Zeller has fundamentally altered how healthcare facilities approach psychiatric emergencies.

With over 60 EmPATH units operating in the U.S., his freely shared model demonstrates the impact of combining clinical innovation with evidence-based design to improve care. We hope you can join us in celebrating his achievements at the Awards Ceremony and Changemaker Keynote on March 10 at 8:15 AM CT! View the announcement: https://loom.ly/Q8_x8EA

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Research: We help facilitate research on how the design of the built environment affects outcomes. A major initiative is the Pebble Project, a unique and dynamic collaborative, where forward-thinking healthcare, design, and industry professionals learn, research, and share information with one another. Our website has more than 40 free research reports and whitepapers that link the built environment to outcomes and searchable databases of relevant research and project examples. Education: Our Evidence-based Design Accreditation & Certification (EDAC) program is an internationally recognized educational program that awards credentials to individuals who demonstrate a thorough understanding of how to apply an evidence-based process to plan and design healthcare facilities. With more than 1,200 certified individuals since its launch in 2009, EDAC is quickly becoming one of the healthcare design industry’s most important credentials. Each year, more than 4,000 individuals attend our annual Healthcare Design conference and 30,000 subscribe to Healthcare Design magazine (both produced by Vendome Group in association with CHD). Advocacy: We recognize and promote excellence in design and leadership through 5 award programs. By providing input into the Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities, we are advocating for change in the building codes and standards. A partner in the Healthier Hospitals Initiative, we are an active participant in a coalition of major health systems and organizations committed to improving sustainability and safety across the healthcare sector. Hundreds of individuals and organizations are engaged to support our work and help transform the industry through our affiliate membership program.