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 wit

h 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.

Continued advancement in evidence-based healthcare design requires not only new research, but new researchers to ask que...
05/01/2026

Continued advancement in evidence-based healthcare design requires not only new research, but new researchers to ask questions, conduct studies, and share their findings.

To support new researchers, The Center for Health Design – through the generosity of the Joseph G. Sprague Foundation – provides annual financial awards and opportunities to share their work with the broader healthcare design community as they launch their research careers.

Attend this webinar to hear from two past New Investigator Award recipients, recent Texas A&M University graduate Dr. Homa Pesarakli and Dr. Deborah Wingler, PhD, MSD-HHE, EDAC, LSSYB of HKS Architects, as they share their research journeys and findings with our research team Dr. Ellen Taylor and Dr. Yolanda Keys.

Dr. Pesarakli will discuss her study on medication processes in the ICU and how unit spatial layout and the physical environment contribute to unnecessary interruptions. Dr. Wingler will reflect on her research journey from her PhD at Clemson to her current work integrating research into practice at HKS. Learn more and register: https://loom.ly/wKDwg-s

The Cowichan District Hospital Redevelopment Project, submitted by Parkin Architects, reflects deep partnerships and res...
04/30/2026

The Cowichan District Hospital Redevelopment Project, submitted by Parkin Architects, reflects deep partnerships and respectful collaboration that make the Cowichan Valley an exceptional place to live, work and learn. The plan for a new hospital, with capacity for 204 beds, is strengthened by an innovative approach to delivering integrated health services across the Cowichan Region.

The new Cowichan District Hospital (CDH) is being built on the unceded traditional territory of Cowichan Tribes, with Island Health committed to building a community of care for a community that cares. Jurors stated the project demonstrated a thorough and complete planning and design process with great stakeholder involvement, exemplary alignment of vision, goals, and objectives with EBD principles, and a well-defined, credible business case aligned to infection control objectives. Read more about the 2026 Gold Touchstone Award recipient here: https://loom.ly/lmI9Md8

Behavioral health care is no longer confined to one setting—it spans acute care, outpatient clinics, emergency departmen...
04/30/2026

Behavioral health care is no longer confined to one setting—it spans acute care, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and beyond. As needs continue to grow and evolve, so does the demand for environments that can support complex care, remain flexible to changing conditions, and promote safety, dignity, and therapeutic outcomes.

Join us for a dynamic program featuring expert presentations, case studies, research updates, and panel discussions. Explore how design solutions can better support patients, families, and staff—and inform more effective planning and decision-making. Register now: https://loom.ly/4nXId8I

Thank you to our workshop sponsors: Accurate Lock & Hardware Co., Altro, architecture+, Whitehall Manufacturing, ModuForm, Inc, Norix Furniture, Patcraft and Spec Furniture

Now is the perfect time to become EDAC certified and advance your knowledge about the importance of evaluating the impac...
04/29/2026

Now is the perfect time to become EDAC certified and advance your knowledge about the importance of evaluating the impact of design decisions on outcomes. For a limited time only, if you register to take the exam by May 31st and use the code "doubledown" you will get 15% off the EDAC Exam AND 15% off the three EDAC Study Guides - a savings of up to $100! Read about our promo here: https://loom.ly/R-urYcY

We are now accepting proposals for the Joseph G. Sprague New Investigator Award! Presented by The Center, we will award ...
04/28/2026

We are now accepting proposals for the Joseph G. Sprague New Investigator Award! Presented by The Center, we will award up to $15,000 to support high quality research by new investigators around the world, whose research can fill critical gaps in the field of evidence-based design.

The award is open to graduate students, and other recent research degree recipients whose contributions reflect their potential to conduct original, empirical research to improve our understanding of the relationships between the physical environment and health-related outcomes & wellness. To learn more about submissions, follow this link: https://loom.ly/iAamALg

Our Center Stage newsletter provides an opportunity for our healthcare design community to learn more about products, se...
04/28/2026

Our Center Stage newsletter provides an opportunity for our healthcare design community to learn more about products, services and solutions available to support new construction and renovation projects.

This month's Center Stage features the Arc washroom range by Pineapple Contracts USA; Patcraft’s Numix homogeneous tile; Whitehall Manufacturing's Single Occupancy Suite for behavioral healthcare; The KALM Co-Produced Washroom Range by Kingsway Group; Altro Americas' Whiterock Digiclad; and the Gig Task Light by Visa Lighting. View this month's Center Stage newsletter here: https://loom.ly/yr2MLxg

Every day, we help healthcare and design professionals, as well as product manufacturers, vendors, and educators, design...
04/27/2026

Every day, we help healthcare and design professionals, as well as product manufacturers, vendors, and educators, design and build safer and more efficient hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and wellness centers through research, education, and community.

When you contribute to The Center for Health Design, you’ll fund efforts for those who are designing and building healthcare facilities in the U.S. and abroad, making them safer and healthier for all. Make a contribution to The Center and make a difference in the future of healthcare. Donate here: https://loom.ly/7kDZaqQ

Thanks to the generous support of Accurate Lock & Hardware Co., Altro, architecture+, Whitehall Manufacturing and ModuFo...
04/27/2026

Thanks to the generous support of Accurate Lock & Hardware Co., Altro, architecture+, Whitehall Manufacturing and ModuForm, Inc, our Behavioral & Mental Health Toolbox is open for free access to our entire healthcare design community.

Comprised of content authored and curated by The Center's research staff, the toolbox contains a vast array of design research, resources and tools for connecting the built environment to better health outcomes and reduced cost of care. Check out the Behavioral & Mental Health Toolbox and see our vast array of resources here: https://loom.ly/P7yT99M

What keeps you up at night?We asked this question of visitors to our expo hall booth at last month’s PDC Summit in Houst...
04/24/2026

What keeps you up at night?

We asked this question of visitors to our expo hall booth at last month’s PDC Summit in Houston.

While not surprising that worries about #2 STAFF BURNOUT and #3 WORKFORCE SHORTAGES would rank near the top for healthcare professionals, the top spot went to #1 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

Not sure all patients would necessarily agree with this, but #17 NOISE REDUCTION ranked among the bottom four concerns together with #18 WAYFINDING, #19 NATURAL LIGHT, and #20 CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth and cast their votes!

View the complete TOP-20 RANKING here: https://loom.ly/BdqOpsQ

The challenges of caring for and treating people with behavioral and mental health needs continue to grow and evolve, as...
04/24/2026

The challenges of caring for and treating people with behavioral and mental health needs continue to grow and evolve, as do the demands for new and diverse types of environments to provide that care.

We’ve finally recognized that behavioral health patients are everywhere – beyond the traditional “unit” – in acute care, ambulatory and outpatient clinics, the emergency department, and every setting where care is delivered.

Now we’re challenged to create within these diverse settings design solutions that support the complexities of care, are flexible to respond to fluid care needs, maximize therapeutic outcomes, and offer a respite to patients, families and staff.

Fortunately, new ideas and solutions are all around us. In a dynamic blend of thought leader presentations, case studies, research updates, and panel discussions, our expert workshop faculty will present a unique diversity of experiences and perspectives – historical, personal, project and global – to inform design planning and decision-making that better supports behavioral and mental health needs. Learn more and register: https://loom.ly/4nXId8I

Thank you to Accurate Lock & Hardware Co., Altro, architecture+, Whitehall Manufacturing, ModuForm, Inc, Norix Furniture, Patcraft and Spec Furniture for sponsoring this workshop!

Advancing evidence-based healthcare design depends on both new research and the next generation of researchers who ask q...
04/24/2026

Advancing evidence-based healthcare design depends on both new research and the next generation of researchers who ask questions, conduct studies, and share findings. To support emerging voices, The Center for Health Design—through the generosity of the Joseph G. Sprague Foundation—offers annual awards and opportunities to share work with the broader healthcare design community.

Attend this webinar featuring two past New Investigator Award recipients: recent Texas A&M University graduate Dr. Homa Pesarakli, and Dr. Deborah Wingler of HKS Architects. They will be in conversation with The Center’s research team, Ellen Taylor and Yolanda Keys, discussing their research journeys and key findings. Dr. Pesarakli will explore ICU medication processes and how spatial layout and the physical environment contribute to interruptions, while Dr. Wingler will share her trajectory from her PhD at Clemson to applying research in practice at HKS. Learn more and register: https://loom.ly/wKDwg-s

Put these upcoming healthcare design events on your calendar! View our April 2026 Upcoming Events newsletter here: https...
04/23/2026

Put these upcoming healthcare design events on your calendar! View our April 2026 Upcoming Events newsletter here: https://loom.ly/GJeJh-o

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