Eco-Effective Design and Evidence-Based Design: Perceived Synergy and Conflict

Eco-effective design (EED) and evidence-based design (EBD) are two powerful trends currently shaping healthcare architecture. EED addresses whether/how the design and operation of buildings improve ecological value and enhance human health. EBD addresses whether/how the design and operation of buildings support positive health outcomes in the built environment through a growing collection of solutions informed by research and practical knowledge. The primary hypothesis of this study was that EBD and EED are compatible approaches to health facility design, especially when addressing the impact of the environment on human health. To explore this hypothesis, healthcare facility administrators were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the relationship between EED and EBD. Input from focus groups and EED and EBD experts was used to formulate the administrator questionnaire. The study concluded that the relationship between EED and EBD typically was synergistic.