Gresham Smith is proud to announce that Healthcare Director of Research and Insights Lesa N. Lorusso, Ph.D., MBA, MSArch, RID, Allied AIA, and Healthcare Research Analyst Tatiana Orozco, MS, Ph.D., will present at the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA56) conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Friday, May 30. The conference’s theme this year is Designing Communities for Climate Action and Resilience.
Summaries of the presentations are below.
Healthcare Innovation: Inclusive and Evidence-Based Design
This session presents innovative, evidence-based approaches to healthcare facility design that promote inclusivity and effectiveness. Presentations will examine renovation in hospital inpatient units, daylight access in cancer hospital waiting areas, senior living needs in hospital-based facilities, and user experiences in discharge lounges. The session highlights practical design strategies that enhance healthcare environments for both patients and providers.
Fortuitous Inclusivity: Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Renovation in Hospital Inpatient Units
This presentation discusses an incidental yet noteworthy outcome of a recent renovation on select floors of the inpatient units in an acute care hospital general tower—increased perceptions of an inclusive environment. The initial purpose of the renovations centered on enhancing functionality and aesthetics of the inpatient units, but anecdotal feedback suggested increased perceptions of inclusivity and accessibility post-renovation.
Results showed that renovated areas were consistently rated more positively across a variety of environmental factors, with notable improvements in staff perceptions of inclusivity-related elements such as furniture usability, ease of navigation, and diversity-friendly design. This case emphasizes how universal design elements, even when not the primary focus, can meaningfully enhance the sense of inclusion in healthcare environments, reinforcing the importance of evaluating both intended and incidental outcomes of design changes.
