As healthcare architects, we are passionate about designing healthcare facilities that support children and their families on their healing journeys. We believe healing spaces can be fun, playful, offer distractions, and let children be children. Read more

Building Information Modeling (BIM) brings architecture and design into the digital age with an intelligent 3D model-based process that offers digital representations of physical and functional elements of spaces. For Parkin, it provides tools to more effectively plan and design innovative, intuitive, and functional institutions, especially those as critical and complex as healthcare facilities. Read more

Bernadette Searle, Manager of Capital Projects with York Regional Police, has over 13 years of experience managing their capital projects and facilities. She is involved from land purchase through to the maintenance and upkeep of the buildings. Below, Bernadette shares how she evaluates and selects architects for new builds and renovations. Read more

In addition to being away from home, treatments, procedures and an abundance of strangers can make hospitals a scary place for anyone, not to mention children. It’s vital that a healthcare facility designated for youth prioritizes positive distractions, like play spaces, visual stimulation, and technology, in addition to efficiency and operational purposes in the design process. Read more

According to a survey by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), “…85% of people feel their access to quality outdoor views and natural sunlight boosts their overall productivity and happiness.” These results are hardly surprising. Backed by research, we know that good institutional design has a direct impact on the occupants of a built environment. Further to that, improvements that affect human capital have a much greater impact on organizations in terms of costs and savings than those that improve only the physical capital. Read more

How many building certifications does your facility have? How many does it need?

For most buildings, one certification is enough, but for some―especially those within institutional design―it makes sense to obtain additional building certifications. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the WELL Building Standard (WELL) are two such programs that work harmoniously. Read more