Event Description

This session is organized in celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity. It will feature insights from Baptist Health leadership and experts from Gresham Smith.

Roger Ulrich’s 1984 study demonstrates access to nature improves patient outcomes and eases stress. Building upon the ensuing field of evidence supporting biophilic design on health, Baptist Health Care of Pensacola, Florida sought to create a new greenfield 57-acre campus that prioritized connection to the existing natural landscape to benefit the healthcare experience and serve as a prominent Third Place for the local community. 

Gresham Smith led the biophilic design strategy, incorporating a “town-square” with heritage oaks, healing gardens, walking paths and rehab areas. Each of the campus’ three buildings feature glazing enabling daylight and views and lightwells bring daylight into the building’s core. Natural materials such as terracotta and wood provide warmth and artwork featuring nature provides inspiration and wayfinding. 

During this presentation, Baptist Health leadership and Gresham Smith experts will share planning strategy and insights from a post-occupancy evaluation. This is done by using space syntax to measure visibility and walkability to biophilic design features and comparing Biophilic Design Matrix scores to those from the health system’s old facility. Attendees will leave this session with an understanding of how biophilic design features can positively impact key performance indicators for staff and patients. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Articulate evidence-based design strategies for incorporating biophilic design elements within healthcare facilities.

• Identify how incorporating biophilic design elements can positively impact key performance indicators related to patient outcomes and staff experience.

• Understand the concept of space syntax and its use in measuring accessibility to biophilic elements in a healthcare facility.

• Articulate how the Biophilic Design Matrix scores can provide insights into design decisions.