CHSD 'boot camp' schools pros on evidence-based design principles

Professional architects learned how to incorporate evidence-based design into healthcare projects at an April 12-14 “boot camp” sponsored by Texas A&M’s [Center for Health Systems and Design] (http://archone.tamu.edu/chsd/) .

Led by Mardelle Shepley, and Kirk Hamilton, professors of architecture and [Fellows] (http://www.healtharchitects.org/Member/fellows.asp) of the American College of Healthcare Architects, campers were guided through an evidence-based practice model using projects at participants’ respective firms. Shepley is also the CHSD director.

Instruction topics at the camp, which took place at the Vineyard Court Designer Suites Hotel in College Station, included converting key design issues into research questions, the importance of design research and documenting intended project outcomes.

The topics were presented by Shepley, Hamilton, and faculty from Texas A&M’s College of Architecture, including:

• Susan Rodiek, associate professor of architecture;
• Zofia Rybkowski, assistant professor of construction science;
• James Varni, professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, and
• Xuemei Zhu, assistant professor of architecture.

The “campers,” from Cannon Design and HDR Inc., two firms with significant health care practices, also had homework during the camp, including finding sources addressing their respective project’s design research questions and developing project hypotheses.

Graduate architecture students also helped campers perform their online research.

After passing a review exam, campers received an advanced practitioner certificate from the CHSD.