EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: RESIDENTIAL SITE PLANS AND OLDER ADULTS WALKING

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1 ABSTRACTS EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: RESIDENTIAL SITE PLANS AND OLDER ADULTS WALKING Zhe Wang, Ph.D., RA, LEED AP Mike Pukszta, AIA Cannon Design Mardelle Shepley, D. Arch, AIA, LEED AP Texas A&M University Evidence-based research for architectural design is conducted in universities and in firms. The methodologies used in the AIA project have been applied in two university-based projects and one firm-based project to establish baseline information for architectural research, with an emphasis on design for health. These projects involve both primary research and secondary research. To further examine findings from the AIA project, an environment-behavior research project was completed at Texas A&M University to examine both neighborhood environments and site-level environments and their roles in promoting walking behaviors in older adults. To refine the methodologies for firm-based research, a proposal has been created for a Post-Occupancy Evaluation project at Cannon Design, with an emphasis on developing and using reliable research tools to support design practices. Selected findings have been published nationally and internationally through peer-reviewed journal papers and conference presentations. The findings also have been translated into design guidelines and are introduced to students, designers and clients to enhance their designs and business. Standards of architectural research should help to achieve research goals. One of the main goals of architectural research is to improve the quality of design. Design works are conducted by designers to meet the needs of clients. Reliable standards of architectural research should be developed by the teams including researchers, designers, and clients. These team members should work together to refine research questions, collect research data, and provide feedback on research-informed design guidelines. These guidelines can be used in universities and in firms to promote design quality. In summary, the research supported by the funds provided for the initial project, Residential Site Plans and Older Adult Walking, has significantly influenced the research agendas of the recipients. Their research works help to establish the baseline information and effective standards of evidence-based research for architectural design.

2 Evidence-based Research for Architectural Design: Residential Site Plans and Older Adults Walking Zhe Wang, Ph.D., RA, LEED AP Mike Pukszta, AIA Cannon Design Mardelle Shepley, D. Arch, AIA, LEED AP Texas A&M University

3 AIA Report on University Research Volume 5 1. Applications of Our Methodologies in Evidence-based Architectural Research The project entitled Residential Site Plans and Older Adults Walking was completed and published in Volume 2 of the AIA Report on University Research in 2006 (Wang et al., 2006). Since then, our methodologies have been used in three environmentbehavior projects to establish baseline information for architectural research, with an emphasis on design for health. The three projects are the Nearby Outdoor Environmental Support of Older Adults Yard Activities, Neighborhood Walking and Independent Living in the Community, the Bittle Lane Project for Seniors and the Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of Cancer Infusion Treatment Bays. The first two projects were completed at Texas A&M University, and the third one is in process at Cannon Design. Population groups participating in these projects include community-dwelling older adults and inpatients in healthcare facilities. Environments examined in these projects range from indoor spaces to nearby outdoor settings at the site level and at the neighborhood level. The methodologies applied to collect research data include questionnaire surveys, interviews, on-site observations, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Multivariate Logistic Regression Models and Structural Equation Models were used to analyze research data in Statistical Packages for Social Sciences. 3

4 Evidence-based Research for Architectural Design: Residential Site Plans and Older Adults Walking 2. Defining Reliable Standards of Architectural Research Standards of architectural research should help to achieve research goals. One of the main goals of architectural research is to improve the quality of design. Design works are conducted by designers to meet the needs of clients. To define reliable standards of architectural research, we invite designers and clients to join our research team. They help to refine research questions, collect research data, and provide feedback on research-informed design guidelines. Additionally, when publications and presentations are interdisciplinary, they tend to contain less profession-specific jargon, and therefore are more accessible. For instance, in the POE project, research team members have conducted in-depth discussions about how to narrow down research topics in the context of cancer center design (Pukszta, 2009, 2008). The team includes academic researchers, architects, interior designers, project planners and client representatives. To define reliable principles of the evaluation, the team plans to meet medical doctors and patient representatives and their families to better understand their requirements for the treatment environment. Design experiences accumulated in nine cancer center projects completed by the firm will be shared in detail with the team. The team also plans to tour other cancer centers and collect opinions on environmental design from colleagues. Team members will then conduct focus group activities and translate their research concerns into evaluation principles. These principles are expected to be applied throughout the research, from questionnaire development, pilot study to feedback collection. By conducting these primary research activities with designers and clients, we help to define reliable standards of architectural research. Architectural research is generally related to variables from multiple disciplines, including interior design, landscape, planning, environmental psychology, public health, and sustainability. To make architectural research meaningful and effective, a literature review of these disciplines is necessary. Research team members need to be updated with the latest research findings and also familiar with innovative design precedents. To meet the needs, we constantly review academic journals and participant in design conferences. These secondary research activities help to define reliable standards of architectural research. Based on research findings from the AIA project and a literature review, an article entitled Support of Seniors Ageing in Place - Environmental Design Guidelines on Activity Promotion and Fall Prevention was completed and published by the AIA in 2008 (Wang, 2008c). A related paper, Site-level Environmental Support of Active Behavior and Fall Prevention for Seniors was published in the Seniors Housing & Care Journal in 2008 (Wang et al., 2008). To distribute these research findings, we have also made presentations at the Environmental Design Research Association international conference 38th, 39th, 40th; Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning s 50th conference, and the AIA National Convention 2007, 2008 (Wang, 2008a, 2008b; Wang et al., 2009a; Wang et al., 2007). 4

5 Wang Shepley Pukszta Figure 1: GIS Distance Map A survey was conducted with 114 older adults in five assisted-living facilities in Houston, Texas (Figure 1). A subset of 61 participants environments was examined using GIS. Multivariate analyses identified variables associated with walking at both the site-level (yard landscaping and corner-lot type) and the neighborhood-level (walking destinations, safety from crime, and sidewalks). This research highlights the importance of including sitelevel environments in future studies on environmentwalking relationships. Based on the findings, a paper entitled Site and Neighborhood Environments Associated with Walking in Older Adults has been completed and submitted to the journal Health and Place and is under peer review (Wang et al., 2009b). 3. Further Work To further examine findings from the AIA project, environment-behavior research was conducted at the site level and at the neighborhood level, with an emphasis on walking in older adults. Walking benefits health and thus enhances seniors independence. Previous studies show that environments affect walking behaviors, but these studies have focused on neighborhood environments, overlooking proximate site-level characteristics, which may have more direct impacts on walking. This research examines both the neighborhood and site-level environments and their roles in promoting walking in older adults. 5

6 Evidence-based Research for Architectural Design: Residential Site Plans and Older Adults Walking Figure 2: POE Research To further renew the methodologies used in the AIA project for firm-based research, we created a proposal for the POE project in the context of Cannon Design (Figure2). The firm began studying the design of cancer treatment infusion bays in Since then, designers have interviewed more than 400 cancer patients about their experiences of the treatment environments (Pukszta, M. 2007, 2006a, 2006b). They used the environmental understanding gained in the interviews to shape the design of three infusion centers. However, the validity of the research questionnaire used in the interviews is unknown and the review of academic research about cancer treatment environments has not been done. In the on-going POE project, we will work on the rebuild of the previous questionnaire and will conduct a pilot study to confirm its validity before using it to collect data. These research activities will be based on an in-depth literature review of cancer center design. Statistical packages will be used to analyze research data for significant variables. The results will then be translated into design criteria used for future cancer centers. For instance, designers have realized the importance of the following design criteria on patients stress control: provision of interaction with other patients and/or guests without compromising the perception of privacy, positive distractions, daylighting, visibility of staff, and guest accommodations. The POE study will examine the degree of success of these criteria and also clarify other significant design features for patients and for staff. Based on the results, bodies of writing that are suitable for publication will be created, including academic papers and conference presentations. Topics of future research will also be clarified. 6

7 Wang Shepley Pukszta Figure 3: Bittle Lane Student Design Projects 4. Direct Use of Practitioners Applied Findings Our research findings have been translated into design guidelines and are introduced to designers and clients to enhance their designs and business. They use the evidence-based design guidelines in architectural schools and in firms. Collaborating with the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University and the Lena Mae Ferris Foundation, we conducted the Bittle Lane Project in Bryan, Texas in As a result of presenting research findings from the AIA project at the annual conference of the Foundation, we were invited to redesign the site-level environments of their existing senior living communities (Figure 3). Along with two professors, eleven students in a Master s level design studio joined the redesign project. The principal investigator of the AIA project was a guest instructor in the studio, who helped students use research findings to guide the design process. Five students were also invited to join the aforementioned environment-walking research as survey assistants. Through their participation, students achieved a better understanding of architectural research and how to use it to support their designs. Their projects received highly positive evaluations from client representatives, experienced architects and professors from multiple disciplines. 7

8 Evidence-based Research for Architectural Design: Residential Site Plans and Older Adults Walking At Cannon Design, we have created a research academy to promote the use of research in design and to help integrate designers into research teams. Research activities in the academy will involve three stages: Understand Architectural Research, Build the Data Base, and Create New Evidence. Evidence-based design guidelines and goal checklists will be developed and consulted at every stage of the design process. Valued opportunities will be provided for designers to maximize their professional skills through the learning and doing of architectural research. As many designers may have become accustomed to intuition-based design, a spirit of using research to inform design needs to be ignited in them. Instead of merely doing research for project teams, this academy will assist Cannon Design team members in developing critical thinking skills and independent inquiry. Project teams are expected to clarify their design strategies, ask research questions, review design precedents, summarize design experiences, and use evidence-based guidelines and checklists in the design process. The product of their research will be shared internally on a knowledge network, interlaced with an internal blog. Applicable areas range from health care, education, corporate and commercial, science and technology, to sports facilities. In summary, the research supported by the funds provided for the initial project, Residential Site Plans and Older Adult Walking has significantly influenced the research agendas of the recipients. The research methodologies have been applied in both university-based and firmbased projects. The research findings have been distributed nationally and internationally through peer-reviewed journal papers and conference presentations. The findings have also been translated into design guidelines and enhance projects and business. These help to establish the baseline information and effective standards of evidencebased research for architectural design. Acknowledgements We would like to thank Mr. Peter Hourihan, Director of Research at Cannon Design, for his valuable recommendations that improved the quality of this essay. 8

9 Wang Shepley Pukszta References Wang, Z. (2008a). Nearby Outdoor Environmental Support of Seniors Physical Activities and Independence. In S. Haq, C. Hölscher & S. Torgrude (Eds.), Movement and Orientation in Built Environments: Evaluating Design Rationale and User Cognition, EDRA 39 (pp. 85). Boca del Rio, Veracruz, México: the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA). Wang, Z. (2008b). Support of Ageing-in-place at Home, Design Guidelines. Paper presented at the 2008 Convention of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Boston, MA. Wang, Z. (2008c). Support of Seniors Ageing in Place Environmental Design Guidelines. AIA Soloso e-journal, 1(Leadership), 1-6. Wang, Z., & Lee, C. (2009a). Site and Neighborhood Environments associated with Older Adults Walking. In Planning and Human Health & Safety - Proceedings of the 50th annual conference of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (pp. 231). Crystal City, VI.: ACSP Wang, Z., & Rodiek, S. (2007). Residential Sites and Seniors walking. In J. M. Bissell (Ed.), Building Sustainable Communities, EDRA38 (pp. 113). Sacramento, CA: the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA). Wang, Z., Rodiek, S., & Shepley, M. (2006). Residential Site Environments and Yard Activities of Older Adults. In Report on University Research (Vol. 2, pp ). Washington, DC: The American Institute of Architects. Wang, Z., & Shepley, M. (2008). Site-level Environmental Support of Active Behavior and Fall Prevention for Seniors. Seniors Housing & Care Journal, 16(1), Pukszta, M. (2009). What Do My Cancer Patients Want? Presented at the 2009 Annual Association of Cancer Executives Conference, San Diego, CA. Pukszta, M. (2008). Cancer Center Environment Research. Presented at the 2008 Healthcare Design Conference, Washington, D.C. Pukszta, M. (2007). Is Satisfaction Satisfying? Presented at the 2007 Healthcare Design Conference, Dallas, TX. Pukszta, M. (2006). A Change of Heart - Baptist Medical Center, Heart Hospital at Baptist. Healthcare Building Ideas, 2006 April. 5. Wang, Z., & Lee, C. (2009b). Site and Neighborhood Environments for Walking among Older Adults. Health & Place, In process. 13. Pukszta, M. (2006). Cancer Center Design for Today and Tomorrow: A Catalyst for Quantum Change in Cancer Care. Inside ASHE, 2006 (3). 9