Healthcare

Written By IIDA New England Communications Committee
 
 

The Healing Power of Nature

While green spaces and landscaping are often considered after the fact in many building designs, in healthcare design there has been an uptick in cases where the building is being designed around the desire for green space.

The benefits of biophilic design have been researched as they pertain to healthcare and have been proven to accelerate patient healing and reduce staff stress. Examples of such spaces include atriums, rooftop gardens, meditative walking paths and planted courtyards. In instances where nature is brought indoors, either through planters or wall applications, employee productivity usually tends to increase due to improved cognitive function and concentration. This increase is attributed to natural light and views of nature being present within the working environment. This same principle has been applied to healthcare design, by providing interior views of a central atrium green space where exterior views do not yield as much of a desirable view, particularly in hospitals within cities. Accessible rooftop gardens that can be viewed from inside treatment spaces are also rising in popularity, both for patients and their families. By providing tranquil spaces for family members to sit while treatment is being provided, it allows individuals to take a break from the hospital environment without leaving the building. Offering a reprieve from the clinical space as well as the sounds and smells we often associate with hospitals.

What are the benefits for the building? Incorporating green spaces into the design of the building integrates sunlight, plants and water into the space, which in turn enhances air quality, can reduce energy consumption and improve humidity levels. Bringing nature into a building requires natural light to allow the plants to photosynthesize and can often lead to passive heating designs or solar voltaic heating being incorporated as well.

Green spaces should be considered for all buildings based on what we now know about the benefits of biophilia. The hope is that the trend of healthcare spaces prioritizing the incorporation of nature into building design will continue to rise and benefit patients and staff alike in these spaces. 

Interested in reading more about the healing effects of nature? Check out this article called 'The Healing Power of Nature' from Psychology Today.


 
 
 
 

EXPLORING THE IIDA CAREER CENTER
The IIDA Career Center is a great source for design industry jobs and connects employers with thousands of highly engaged professionals, including IIDA members, nonmembers, and institutions

So, what are the benefits for IIDA members?

1.      Discounts: Members (companies, firms, universities, individuals) receive discounted postings for job opportunities and complimentary internship postings.

2.      Resume Guidance: Level up your career game with confidence through top-notch resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn services that will make you stand out from the crowd.

3.      Career Advice: Receive guidance through articles and blog posts for every step of your career - everything from personal branding to networking, resumes & cover letters.

4.      Career Insights: The insights tool allows you to review data surrounding compensation, education, skills, employment and more that will help you plan your career.

5.      Career Coaching: Partner with a professional coach to receive unbiased, clear advice on how to achieve your goals and elevate your profile in the industry.

BUILDING LEADERS BREAKFAST
Join IIDA New England on May 7, 2026, at the UMass Club One Beacon St. Level 32 in Boston, MA, for the Building Leaders Breakfast — celebrating the leaders who drive progress and shape the design industry.

Part of IIDA’s national Leaders Breakfast tradition, BLB honors designers as visionary business leaders and changemakers, bringing together established voices and emerging innovators to highlight the intersection of design, commerce, equity, and sustainability.

2026 Theme: Getting Sh!t Done Without Coming Undone with Katie McDonald
A no-nonsense, energizing keynote on crushing burnout, rethinking “doing it all,” and managing time and energy with purpose and clarity.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Be sure to check in with the IIDA New England event calendar for upcoming events offered in our community. Here's a sneak peek at some upcoming events:

Designer Monologues the Podcast from IIDA New England with your host Brett Berry is officially LIVE! On this show, we share the stories behind the design of repurposing, developing, and reshaping our communities. Incubated from the minds and skills of New England’s talented design community, you’ll hear how visual inspiration can come from nature, our history, current trends, and more as we take you on a story-telling journey behind design. 

Check out all of the episodes here! 

Stay tuned for the next President's Message in June!


Do you have an idea that you would like to share with the design community or see highlighted here in The Wire? Share your ideas here. 

 
 

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IIDA New England Communications Committee
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