Naturally Ventilated Healthcare

Attending next month’s ArchitectureBoston Expo (ABX)? Be sure to check out Naturally Ventilated Healthcare on Wednesday, 11/20.

Healthcare architecture today places a high priority on views and daylight, but not the connection to the outdoors through an operable window. Recently increased awareness of patient comfort now provides spaces that feel less “institutional,” however the risk of infection limits the creation of spaces that breathe. According to the Energy Information Administration, hospitals today account for nearly 52% of their annual energy costs in heating/cooling/ventilation. With industry initiatives like the 2030 Challenge along with other sustainable design initiatives, hospitals must find ways to reduce their energy consumption while continuing to provide increased levels of patient comfort and care. ; This workshop will identify relevant design and patient care issues, and outline safe and effective approaches for incorporating natural ventilation into the healthcare setting. Through analyzing the differences between domestic and international codes, we will explore the implications of centralized, decentralized, passive and active ventilation strategies. This will be accomplished by exploring current best practices in natural ventilation through the analysis of a typical patient room and inpatient unit. We will also offer lessons learned from some of our current projects to analyze the issues from multiple perspectives, including the designer, client, patient and caregiver.

Details
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Speakers
Christopher Baylow, Associate Principal, Payette
Megan van der Linde, Designer, Payette