Services

Deborah Burnett and James Benya collaborate worldwide with design teams, stakeholders, and medical professionals bridging the gap between science and practical application for the purpose of creating health promoting built environments

Active throughout the entire design and construction process, we provide design team value via objective circadian correct architectural oversight, human focused lighting education, and stakeholder charrette leadership in prioritizing passive wellness and enhanced human energy efficiencies 

PROGRAMMING:  Prioritize the role of light and energy efficient daylighting technologies combined with research driven epigenetic design interventions for specific health promoting occupant outcomes. Provide architectural and stakeholder charrette and education training to facilitate whole team buy-in and active participation throughout the project  

SCHEMATICS: Based soundly on established and emerging evidence based research, we identify and establish key spatial areas where energy efficient lighting and daylighting technologies, circadian adaptive lighting interventions and research based epigenetic design considerations will be best utilized.  Establish preliminary lighting and interior design concepts for occupant enhanced visual acuity, circadian entrainment, fatigue reduction, enhanced cognition, allostatic load reduction and overall health promoting behavioral outcomes. Identify areas for quasi-clinical treatment of negative behavioral outcomes as commonly found in 24/7 control rooms, long term care facilities, and correctional institutions.  Within the scope of a healthcare project, identify key areas for inclusion of environmental interventions where secondary clinical treatment of specific health conditions will be established such as ICU and NICU areas, surgical and psychiatric patient rooms, and Alzheimer’s units. For K-12 educational projects we help to establish preliminary lighting, daylighting and epigenetic design criteria for environmental interventions leading to improved test scores and enhanced social behaviors.       

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT: Critical review of design team concepts, material and finish selections with an eye towards recommendations for established and emerging health promoting outcomes. Provide peer-review evidence and research documentation in support of design team specifications, concepts and architectural creativity. Areas of focus to also include: wayfinding, pattern and spatial recognition, universal anthropomorphic needs, and sensory enhancement derived from color placement and saturation levels.         

CONSTRUCTION: Provide mock-up critical evaluation with supporting citations and scientific evidence to support the intended passive wellness outcomes. Conduct stakeholder and focus group charrette education for enhanced design interpretation and acceptance of the mock-up area in review.

COMMISSIONING: Provide circadian lighting technical “focusing” and support where needed. Assist with providing passive wellness protocols for ambient temperature variances, ambient sound interventions and lighting control integration as determined for optimized human performance and desired wellness outcomes. Also our role is instrumental in onsite placement of art and other decorative elements as determined to provide necessary wellness interventions    

POST OCCUPANCY EVALUATION:  Document design interventions and conduct on-site review analysis