Architects and designers are in the business of providing innovative solutions for their clients and the end-users who will occupy the buildings or spaces they develop. Often a design challenge calls for a unique new product or methodology, so architects play a crucial role in driving innovation. Often these design challenges are posed by climate change, the need for eco-friendly building materials and the rise of smart technologies. When new products come on the market, the best designers research and evaluate them to consider how a product or process might be integrated into a new project and to predict its efficacy and durability. Read more

Hospital design is evolving rapidly, and hospitals are no longer simply spaces where healing takes place. Evidence-based design, coupled with quickly evolving technology, are transforming hospital and healthcare facility design so that buildings themselves can now play a key role in caring for patients. Technology already has been integrated into healthcare processes: from digitized health records to hospital beds that can turn bedridden patients to reduce bedsores, smart technology is helping to improve the quality and safety of patient care. Read more

Nowadays most people have at least some smart devices in their homes, mostly in the form of smart TVs, printers, thermostats, or other household appliances. What makes them “smart” is their ability to connect to the internet and other devices within the home. The Internet of Things (IoT) has already begun to transform the way we live in our homes. Technology can be integrated into the entire building design and has the power to revolutionize how buildings are managed and maintained, as well as how we live and work in them. Read more

The world of R&D is constantly changing and innovating. That means today’s laboratory designers must meet the needs of research teams today, while also anticipating what the requirements of a lab might be in the future. It’s inevitable that in any research facility, the science, techniques, equipment, and working group arrangements will shift over time. As well, limited funds and shorter research deadlines are impacting trends in lab design, creating demand for more flexibility in interior spaces and in building infrastructure. Read more

Drones are no longer simply figments of science fiction writers’ imaginations. Today, drones (also known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems or UAS) are increasingly deployed for practical uses like package deliveries, accessing disaster zones, aerial photography and more. Architects are using drones in innovative ways that provide better visualizations throughout the design and construction process for their clients and design teams. Design teams can integrate images captured by drones with 3D modelling software and VR technology to provide dynamic visuals that can guide clients and architects throughout the decision and implementation processes of large projects. Read more

Modern design principles for detention centres are moving away from purely punitive functions toward a more rehabilitative model. In the past, prison design was meant to render prisoners docile to the point of potentially causing mental harm. Incarceration was understood as a punishment where confinement and isolation were seen as ends in themselves. Neither workers’ nor prisoners’ mental well-being was taken into consideration for facility design. Read more