EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN APPROACH IN A STUDIO BASED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR GUIDING CONSTRUCTION OF KNOWLEDGE

AUTHORS K. Julian 1, J. Abdelnour 2 East Tennessee State University (USA) Kristi Julian, Ph.D., LEED AP BD+C, EDAC Interior Designer, Assistant Professor Jessica Abdelnour Barquisimeto, Venezuela Interior Designer and Graphic Artist

EVIDENCE BASED DESIGN Evidence-based design (EBD) is the “process of basing decisions about the built environment on credible research to achieve the best possible outcomes” [1].

POTENTIAL OF EBD The potential of evidenced-based design has been widely recognized in the context of healthcare application and renewed interest in research in the constructed environment.

METHODOLOGY Students were required to do evidence based design research for a sleep apnea clinic that included the development of a survey instrument and an interview process. To this purpose the students developed a survey instrument and needs analysis for designing a sleep apnea clinic in a studio based learning environment. Students were required to research sleep apnea and interview individuals with the condition before designing the space. The sleep apnea research was the driving force for the design process from concept development, ideology, space planning, and specification of building and finish materials.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS The Veteran’s Administration gave the students specific program requirements. Students knew that the studio based sleep apnea clinic project was going to be critiqued and peer reviewed by multidisciplinary groups including educators, administrators, architects, contractors and engineers.

EXAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 1. When did you discover that you had sleep apnea? At what age? How did it immediately affect your daily life? 2. How were you diagnosed with sleep apnea? Did you have to take a test or undergo a medical procedure? 3. Have you ever visited a sleep study center? If so, what was your experience like? What made you comfortable or uncomfortable? 4. If you were diagnosed in a particular clinic, was there a particular pattern that you exhibited that gave way to the diagnosis? 5. Is it essential to have your CPAP customized? 6. How does the machine affect other aspects of your life like travel, family affairs, etc.?

PROCESS

RESULTS

The process allowed students, educators and administrators in facilities design to share and implement professional and knowledge resources related to research, teaching and design build application. It provided a quality control measure as well. This studio based project enabled students and educators to understand important design features that characterize their professional practice and interaction with clients.

CONCLUSIONS These applications are of a special value for constructing student learning and the EBD principles can be utilized by all users of the design program, department or by the administrators of the constructed environment. In addition, the evidence-based design process served to solidify student design application. Integrated project teams use of evidence based design application make a more efficient and user friendly collaboration.

IMPLEMENTATION Completed design solutions for the sleep apnea clinic were implemented and utilized by the VA.

REFERENCES The Center for Health Design. (2012). About EDAC. Retrieved from